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exploring taste—santa margherita gruppo vinicolo places—phuket, the glowing island

THE FESTIVAL OF event is deeply embedded in Thai culture. Loy Krathong – the original name of
the event– literally means, “floating basket”. It is celebrated during a full moon
THE LANTERNS on the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, usually overlapping with No-
vember. This year the festivity will be take place on November 3 .
rd
Loy Krathong is meant to bring good luck and its magic and evocative sur-
roundings channel an extraordinary emotional force, involving the entire
Thai population. The krathong is an embellished lantern that holds candles
and incense sticks that are plunged into the water at sundown. Generally,
Words FRANCESCO PAOLO GIORDANO the lantern resembles a lotus flower, a swan or a stupa. Nothing is casual in
Take one of the best natural scenarios in the world, the island of Phuket, and a krathong, all of its elements are precisely symbolic and many Thais place
add a huge traditional and religious celebration, the most revered in whole of money on it in sign of prosperity and richness, or hair and nails to represent
Thailand. Commonly known to westerners as the “Lantern festival”, this yearly misfortunes and negative feelings. This is why, according to the tradition, the

photography Diego Delso

PHUKET, THE photography Taylor Weidman/Getty Images

GLOWING ISLAND 2. 3.

1.

Thanks to its tradition, novelty and soothing beautiful landscapes, Pukhet is currently one of the most 2. – 3.
dynamic and fashionable destinations in the world. The seductive spirituality of Loy Krathong, the variety 1. The Yi Peng completely transforms the night landscape
of its shiny white beaches, restaurants and bars make a trip to the area a once in a lifetime experience. Thai monks prepare to release the flying lanterns of Phuket. The lanterns are released up in the sky after
during the celebrations for the Festival of Light
a little prayer as a sign of good omen
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