Loy Krathong Festival Thailand

Imagine an endless river of lights floating upon dark water under a full moon. Visually stunning and romantically inviting, the Loy Krathong festival, also called the Festival of Lights, takes place over three days throughout Thailand and will likely leave you awe-inspired and breathless.  Concentrated near waterways and rivers on the night of the full moon in the Thai twelfth lunar month, usually November, it is one of Thailand’s most popular events. Symbolizing Thai culture’s Buddhist connection and close ties with water, participants fashion “krathongs” and set them free in the river, taking with it bad luck, grudges, and anger in the hopes of starting the new year afresh.

For a truly enchanted experience nothing quite matches the Thai holiday of Loy Krathong, Festival of Lights. The main theme of the Holiday is all in the name, with the Thai word loi meaning float, and krathong meaning folded banana leaf vessel. Essentially what people do during this holiday is construct banana leaf boats, often times resembling a lotus flower in bloom, and decorate them with three sticks of incense, a yellow candle and multi-colored paper flags which flutter from bamboo sticks. Once the miniature boat is complete and darkness has fallen, people float these boats all over the rivers, canals and ponds of the city in order to cast out bad luck and usher in good fortune. Originally this holiday was started in Thailand to honor the original Buddha, Siddharta Guatama, but now it shares equal significance honoring the Goddess of Water.

A traditional “krathong” is made from the soft stalk of the banana tree trunk and then leaves are fashioned into intricate designs such as the flower petal, rose petal, and the ax.  “Loi” translates as “to float.”  Incense, lotus flowers, and sometimes small coins are added to the little float and set loose into the waterways, paying respects to the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.  Participants hope that water spirits will take away their troubles when they set their krathong free.  Historically this served as an occasion to apologize to the Goddess of Water for using her waterways, and possibly also for polluting her.  Ironically, some modern krathongs are made from styrofoam, but many communities are emphasizing environmentally friendly options like traditional banana leaf materials and also krathongs made from baked bread, which the fishes can nibble.  In cities like Chiang Mai, the skies glow amber, lit by thousands of khom-fai, paper lanterns floating up into the night; hot air from candles sailing them upward.  Locals’ troubles float away with the swaying, enchanting lanterns rising upwards into the night.

Romance sparkles under the stars when couples join to celebrate Loy Krathong together.  Faces illuminated by gentle candlelight, couples in particular celebrate; holding hands, watching in anticipation to see if their floats remain together or float apart, offering a peek into their future as a pair.  A candle that remains lit, or floats sailing away and remaining side by side, signifies good fortune for the romantically entwined.  A flame that peters out, or floats that stray from one another, might not spell doom, but doesn’t bode well.  In traditional Thai culture, young men and women only had the chance to meet and mingle at religious events, making Loy Krathong an excellent chance to be near one another and form connections.  Young pairs would float their krathongs and get a glimpse of their future marriage together this way.

Beyond romantic and religious avenues, what festival is complete without fireworks and beauty contests?  The professional fireworks displays put on for Loy Krathong are nothing short of dazzling.  Huge krathongs are built by corporations, government administrations, and other large organizations, meant to impress and compete in contests.  Beautiful Thai women partake in beauty contests.  Parades wind through streets.  Music fills revelers’ ears.  Dances and theater performances abound.  There is something for everyone, from the quiet dance of paper-lanterns sent into the sky by Buddhist monks, to awesome fireworks displays shooting through the night.

In order to witness this festival in all its glory, the cities of either Bangkok or Chiang Mai is your best option. In Bangkok the city goes all out, with a glorious firework display, beauty contests, and a competition where corporations, governments offices and other organizations construct larger floating boats that are judged on their exhibition and elegance. In Chiang Mai there is added twist to this floating festival, because in addition to the floating boats, many in the city launch hot air lanterns (known as khom fai) into the sky, which resemble an armada of peaceful jellyfish floating toward the heavens. This festival is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai calendar (November).

History:

While the specific origins of Loy Krathong remain in question, the celebration always occurs on the full moon throughout Thailand in the twelfth lunar month of the Thai calendar.  While that much is agreed upon, several origin stories coexist.  One revolves around the beautiful Narng Noppamas, a skilled female artist and member of the royal court in the ancient kingdom of  Sukhothai dating back around seven hundred years ago.  Honoring the Buddha, Noppamas sculpted lotus-shaped krathongs from banana leaves.  Adding candles and incense, she set her creation free into the water.  The local community already celebrated with lanterns set into the water according to this legend, but the king bestowed first prize to Noppamas in a contest for the most exquisite lantern.  The king then stated that on the night of the full moon, once a year, floating lanterns shall be set upon the water honoring the Buddhist holiday.  Noppamas’ legend continues to inspire beauty pageants during the festival.

Another source involves King Chulalongkorn.  Negating ceremony and ritual, the king commented in his writings that Loy Krathong was neither Buddhist nor Brahmin, and it should include everyone, not just the royal court.  However he did concede that Thai kings in the Northern Kingdom floated lanterns during the high point of ancient Sukothai.  In 1863, H.M. King Rama the IV wrote that Buddhists fit the festival, orginally from India and Brahmin in origin, to their needs and paid homage to Siddharta Guatama, the founder of Buddhism and also the first Buddha.  The candle in the Krathong revered the Buddha with light.  Letting the krathong float away also symbolized setting oneself free of negative qualities.

Another view links the festival to the ancient tradition of farming in Thailand.  When the water level rises and the temperatures cool, thankful farmers pay homage to the Goddess of Water for providing sustenance and also apologize for any pollution they may have caused her waters.  Many legends abound but all in all, most agree that Loy Krathong is a Buddhist holiday with ancient roots.

Where: Throughout Thailand, however the best places would be:

Bangkok:

Chao Phraya River, Illuminated float procession and traditional float contest with prize money for the winners.  Unique cultural performances, nightlife.

Sukothai historical park: 

Ancient city of Sukothai, the first Thai capital.  Krathong floating, light and sound show, fireworks, cultural performances.

Chiang Mai: 

The spot to watch the Lanna-style lanterns float into the air.  Krathong floating, design contest, beauty pageant, light and sound presentation on Ping River, and more.  Be careful to not fly into Chiang Mai on this night, because planes have been known to be diverted  or even canceled due to the floating lanterns.  Book your lodgings in advance, as they fill up well before the festivities.

Tak: 

Loy Krathong Sai Festival, Unusual krathongs made from coconut because locals use it in food and beverages as well as native goods, floating coconut krathong contest in a line until thousands light the river, fireworks shows, light and sound show, water curtain presentation, cultural shows, parades.