Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

One of the nicest things about living in a foreign country is learning about and partaking in local ceremonies and holidays.

Loy Krathong is as old as Thai heritage and represents a close bond between Thai culture and water. (It is believed to be Brahmin in origin and was originally an occasion for people to apologise to the goddess of water for having used and sometimes polluted her) The festival takes place on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month when the water level is high and the climate is cooler. Participants ask water spirits to sail away their troubles in their krathongs, which are containers traditionally made from banana leaves and carrying offerings of incense, lotus flowers and small money.

  The Loi Krathong Festival   The First Loy Krathong Festival

written by King Mongkut (Rama IV) in English in the year 1863

Loy Krathong has been the most romantic festival of Thailand, especially in modern times. Almost without exception, young lovers will go out in pairs to spend the evening together, floating their special Krathong and saying silent prayers. The Krathong are very special boats made from banana leaves that hold little offerings and lighted candles. This is an evening for walking from place to place while watching people enjoying themselves. Often you will see groups of people singing and dancing, beating drums and striking cymbals.

This tradition has been observed for no less than 700 years since the Sukhothai period (1238-1438). According to a written account, Nopphamat, a lady of the Sukhothai Court, made the first Krathong in the shape of a lotus, and presented it to the king for the 3-day royal ceremony held to observe the festival.

The word Loy means to float and Krathong means a receptacle traditionally made of banana leaf and used for holding food, flowers and other offerings.

  News Room - Tourist Authority of Thailand

Loi Krathong, Festival of Lights & Illuminated Boats Procession

People usually make banana-leaf cups to float down the river although there exist some uniquely different aspects in certain communities.

The Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai, balloon-like 'Khom Loi' lanterns including the 'Khom Fai' (a fire lantern) and 'Khom Khwan' (a smoke lantern) are flown into the sky as a symbol of worship to Phrathat Chulamani in heaven. Making a Khom Loi requires a lot of artistic skills as well as scientific techniques. Tracing paper or Sa paper is used to make the air bags of various shapes. It is believed that flying a Khom Loi is like flying grief and ill fortune away from ourselves and our homes.

In Tak province, the Loi Krathong Sai Festival is celebrated, reflecting the unity of the local people. Groups of people gather at the river banks, each bringing along thousands of Krathong made from coconut shells with wicks made from the coconut flesh anointed with oil or ash for their inflammable as well as durable quality. There, they sing and dance with merriment.

The span of the Ping River that passes by the provincial city of Tak is not deeper than one's waist, with underwater sand bars curving into different shapes, forcing the current to meander. When the lit Krathongs are floated onto the right current, one after another, they meander along and make a beautiful and twinkling curving line, or Sai in Thai, amid the darkness of the night.

The famous Loi Krathong and Candle Festival in Sukhothai province features a procession of offerings, including Phanom Mak (the betel offering) and Phanom Dok Mai (the floral offering) carried by beautiful girls, as well as banana-leaf floats accompanied by the so-called Nang Nopphamat beauty queens.

The Phanom Mak and Phanom Dok Mai offerings are for the homage paying rite at King Ramkhamhaeng the Great's monument in the heart of the ancient city of Sukhothai. After that, people as well as visitors gather and float the Krathongs together on ponds, known as Traphang, inside the ancient city. The bright candle light from the floated Krathongs and the cool breeze of November together lends a pleasant atmosphere for all participants.

Besides the well-known Loi Krathong Festival, there is another tradition that is based on a similar belief but is celebrated on the full moon night of the eleventh lunar month. Known as the Illuminated Boat Procession, the celebration takes place in the Northeastern provinces of Thailand that is located on the Mekong River. Illuminated boats of approximately 10-12metres long are made from banana stalks or bamboo by villagers. The boats contain sweets, the so-called Khao Tom Mat (stuffed fried sticky rice) and objects to be donated inside, while decorated with flowers, incense sticks, candles, lamps and tinder outside. At present, the boats are created into various shapes such as important places or mythical creatures, which lend a bright and breathtaking sight when the boats illuminated by thousands of lamps are floated onto the river.

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