Loy Krathong is one of Thailand’s most beautiful traditional festivals, celebrated annually on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. This festival occurs right after the rainy season, when the rivers in Thailand are high. On Loy Krathong Day, people release handmade krathongs (floating lanterns) into the rivers, symbolizing the letting go of negative emotions and making wishes for a better future.
- Origin of the Loy Krathong Festival
There are several legends about the origin of the Loy Krathong Festival in Thai folklore. The three most widely known ones are:
Legend 1: It is said that during the Sukhothai Kingdom, the royal family celebrated the “Festival of Lights” on the 15th day of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar. The king and queen, along with their concubines, would travel along the river in a royal boat, and fireworks would light up the sky. The king’s favorite concubine, Noppamas, created a lotus-shaped krathong made of banana leaves and decorated it with fruits carved into the shapes of flowers and birds. She placed incense and candles on the krathong and released it into the river as an offering to the Buddha and the river god. Upon seeing this, the king decreed that the festival would become an annual event. Since then, various krathongs have been created with increasingly intricate designs, and the craft of making krathongs has become more refined.
Legend 2: According to another tale, a sickly princess in ancient Siam met the Buddha under a Bodhi tree. The Buddha told her that to rid herself of illness, she must place her fingernail clippings and hair into a lotus-shaped vessel, light a candle, and release it into the river on the full moon night of the 11th month of the Buddhist lunar calendar. People began to follow this custom, which eventually evolved into the Loy Krathong Festival.
Legend 3: During the Sukhothai Kingdom, the king decided to thank the river goddess Mae Kongka with a celebration. A woman named Noppamas created a lotus-shaped krathong to honor the goddess. She explained to the king that in India, the king of Nammada River used a similar method to honor the Buddha’s footprints. The king approved of this idea, and the tradition of releasing krathongs at the end of the rainy season began. For over 700 years, this event has been celebrated in Thailand.
- Celebrations and Activities
On the day of Loy Krathong, people gather to make krathongs, which are usually crafted from banana tree trunks and decorated with leaves, flowers, incense, and candles. Before releasing the krathongs, people light incense and pray for the well-being and happiness of their families for the coming year, or ask for their children’s academic success. Many young couples also release krathongs together to pray for love and hope for a harmonious relationship.
A parade featuring beautifully decorated floats is another key part of the festival. The procession starts from the city center and travels to the riverbanks, where performances are held on the river’s wide bends near the bridges. Young women wear traditional Thai costumes and carry flower umbrellas, dancing and walking in tune with the lively festival atmosphere.
The Loy Krathong Festival also hosts a krathong design competition, where local artisans showcase their skills by creating colorful and elaborate krathongs. The creativity on display is truly remarkable, with banana leaves and flowers used to make intricate and diverse lanterns.
Another highlight is the “Miss Loy Krathong” beauty pageant, where contestants, dressed in traditional Thai attire, represent their communities. The elegance and charm of the contestants add a romantic and enchanting element to the festival.
- Locations to Experience Loy Krathong
As Thailand’s capital and largest city, Bangkok hosts several special activities for the Loy Krathong Festival at various locations.
Sukhothai, the birthplace of the Thai nation, is where the first Loy Krathong Festival was held, and its celebrations are grand and magnificent. The city offers spectacular performances showcasing the splendor of the Sukhothai Kingdom, along with vibrant light and sound shows. The sky is lit up with thousands of fireworks, creating a romantic and breathtaking atmosphere. Lighting candles, releasing fireworks, and floating krathongs bring joy and excitement to both Thai locals and international visitors, making this an unforgettable experience for all.
