People in North, South top shoppers for Loy Krathong festival

BANGKOK, Nov 21 (TNA) -- People in northern and southern Thailand top the list of shopaholics of products related to Loy Krathong annual festival which falls next Wednesday, according to a study conducted by a consumer science firm. Dunnhumby's analysis of Thais' shopping behaviour during the Loy Krathong festival last year found that shopping occurred most heavily the day before the festival, accounting for around 35 per cent of Loy Krathong-related sales. The people in popular tourism destinations in the North and the South spent money for shopping spree heavily, more than people in other regions of the kingdom, said the study. Bangkokians were the least shoppers during this period. Loy Krathong festival takes place in the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. Celebrants float their krathongs usually made from either banana leaf or styrofoam in to a river or waterways to pay respect and seek forgiveness from the goddess of water. According to the study by the firm, krathongs made natural materials are most popular in the North, Northeast and the South as they account half of total sales of products related to the festival. People living in Bangkok, again, love to float krathongs made from bread or other products and they account about 45 per cent of the total sales. Other products which are popular among the celebrants include fragrant candle and VCD or CD of Thai traditional dance or Ramwong as they account 7 and 0.4 per cent respectively of total sales. (TNA)