Loy Krathong Lantern Drifts Through Riga Prayer Hall

Warm candlelight glows against the damp stone walls of a Riga prayer hall, illuminating a Loy Krathong floating lantern drifting across a still river that inexplicably flows across the stone floor. Giant mushrooms, each the size of an open umbrella, cluster among ordinary wooden pews and scattered prayer mats. Raindrops fall in a fine, visible drizzle, catching the firelight and creating shimmering halos around the floating lantern and the massive fungal caps. The frame-within-a-frame of a stone archway focuses attention on the impossible convergence of Thai ritual and Northern European architecture. one drop of water rests on the edge of a mushroom cap, reflecting the orange flame of the lantern's candle.