Last updated on March 31, 2024 by Roger Kaufman
Loi Krathong is one of the most important festivals in Thailand and is celebrated every November.
It is also known as the Festival of Light and is celebrated by Millions of people across Thailand celebrated.
The festival is traditionally accompanied by the release of small floating baskets onto the water, called “krathongs”.
These are made from banana leaves and flowers and decorated with candles, incense sticks and coins.
The Krathongs are supposed to Provide and bad thoughts of the past year and believers hope that their worries will float away with the Krathongs.
During the festival there are also many activities such as competitions, music and dancing, and of course the traditional Thai dishes and delicacies.
The festival is a wonderful opportunity to experience Thai culture and hospitality and the beauty of the landscape and the People to enjoy.
The night of Loi Krathong is one of the most picturesque events in Thailand.
It is when people gather around lakes, rivers and canals to... Goddess of water To pay respects by releasing beautiful lotus-shaped boats decorated with candles, incense and also flowers on the water.
Loy Krathong Festival In Bangkok, Thailand, 2020
Every year, Loi Krathong falls on the night of the 12th lunar month (usually November) at the end of the rainy season, when the full moon illuminates the sky.
The sight of hundreds of Krathongs flickering Candles Sending a thousand light detections directly into the perspective is an absolutely enchanting view, and there are many places in Bangkok, where you can be connected to the celebrations.
Spectacular Lantern Celebration (Loi Krathong or Yi/Yee Peng) In Chiang Mai.
Every year on the November moon, countless lanterns are shot into the Chiang Mai sky while candles are lit throughout the city.
It is also the moment when krathongs (floating flower heads stuck directly into a piece of banana trunk) float on the Sound River Chiang Mai every November.
What is Loi Krathong?
The background behind the celebration is complicated, and Thais also celebrate it for numerous reasons.
At the end of the big rice harvest it is time waterIrene for her year's worth of bountiful offerings as well as her apology for polluting the water.
Some think this is the moment to do it all trouble and symbolically drifting away the hostilities you have actually retained, and even consisting of a fingernail or a strand of hair, is seen as a way to reveal a dark side of yours to let go own, to recover without adverse sensations.
If your candle stays lit until your krathong disappears from sight, it signifies a full year Glück.
As a rule, Thais start their Krathong directly in rivers as well as into small channels called klongs.
Nowadays a pond or lake is great. A number of social tasks take place at numerous locations, including Ram Wong dance performances, Krathong competitors and an elegance competition.
In Bangkok, people started turning off lights, but this is just a small one Part of the celebration.
For the full lantern experience head straight to Chiang Mai for the Yee Peng Festival, although people usually also get lanterns in Phuket and Samui too the plane.
Loi Krathong celebration at Asiatique
As you prepare to experience Loi Krathong the way the residents do, head to Asiatique, the riverside night market where you'll find yourself among the largest groups and some notable shows.
Be warned that the traffic in the area will certainly be very bad and there will also be long queues to take the shuttle boat in front of the Saphan Taksin BTS terminal.
The action begins against Sunset and there are many krathongs to buy around the river. You can also enjoy the typical banana leaf folding approach or try it yourself.
Thai Students Making Krathong | Loi Krathong 2020 | ลอยกระทง 2563 | Filipino Teacher in Thailand
The large promenade in front of Asiatique will host the centerpieces resulting from the retelling of the Loy Krathong story songs and dance, a launch site for your krathongs, an illuminated float procession and fireworks.
If the crowds here sound way too much, there are plenty of other places along the Chao Phraya River where you can enjoy the festivities.
André Rieu & his Johann Strauss Orchestra Loy Krathong in Bangkok, Thailand.
Loi Krathong is a popular light celebration in Thailand.
The name could be converted to "to float a basket" and also comes from the tradition of making krathong, or floating, decorated baskets that are then placed on a Flow to swim.
What is a Krathong?
There is no equal Word in English for “krathong. You may hear people describing it as a tiny watercraft, vessel, vessel or container.
In the run-up to the During festivals, numerous shops and market stalls present ready-made krathongs, or partial, so you can compose and embellish them as you wish.
In the past, Krathongs were made out natural Products made - usually a section of banana trunk made from folded banana leaves into a lotus shape.
These are still available for sale at main venues.
Recently, Thais have become much more creative in their crafts, designing krathongs from coconut shells, Flowers, baked bread, potato slices, some of which break the standard shape of the lotus leaf in favor of turtles and other sea creatures.
The story of the Loi Krathong
Loi Krathong is one of the most picturesque and well-known festivals in Thailand and has a long and diverse history.
The name “Loi Krathong” is Thai and literally means “floating crown” or “floating decorative basket”, where “loi” means “floating” and “krathong” means “a type of basket”.
During the festival, people release small boats or baskets, usually made of banana leaves, equipped with candles, incense and sometimes money, onto rivers, canals and ponds.
Origins: The origins of the Loi Krathong are somewhat unclear and there are various theories about it. Some historians believe it has its origins in an ancient Hindu ritual of placing lights on bodies of water to worship the god Vishnu.
Another theory states that it was an invention of a woman named Nang Nopphamat in the Kingdom of Sukhothai, but many scholars consider this to be a later invention and not historically accurate.
However, what is widely accepted is that the modern Loi Krathong festival has its roots in the Sukhothai Kingdom period (1238-1438), when it was a celebration with many lights floating down the river, which was a spectacular sight .
Meaning and practice: Loi Krathong is now largely a festival to express gratitude to the goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha. The practice of placing krathongs on the water also symbolizes this Let go of negativity, anger and bitterness. Many Thais also believe that this is an opportunity to thank the Goddess of Water for her life-giving power and ask forgiveness for any pollution.
In some regions of Thailand there is a similar tradition called Yi Peng, which coincides with Loi Krathong. Yi Peng is a festival of lights in which thousands of paper lanterns are released into the sky, considered both a symbol of respect for Buddha and a means of letting go of problems and negative thoughts.
Modern celebrations: Today, Loi Krathong is celebrated nationwide, with festivities most often taking place on the night of the full moon of the 12th lunar month in the traditional Thai lunisolar calendar, which is usually in November. The celebrations include beauty pageants, live music, local performances, fireworks and of course the release of the krathongs onto bodies of water. In many areas there are also competitions for the most beautiful and creative krathongs.
Like many cultural traditions, Loi Krathong has evolved over time but remains an important and beautiful part of Thailand's cultural heritage.
FAQ Loi Krathong
What is Loi Krathong?
Loi Krathong is a traditional Thai festival in which decorated baskets, usually made from banana leaves, are lowered into the water on rivers, canals and ponds. These baskets, called krathongs, often carry candles, incense and flowers, and sometimes small amounts of money as offerings.
When is Loi Krathong celebrated?
Loi Krathong is usually celebrated on the night of the full moon of the 12th lunar month in the traditional Thai lunisolar calendar. This typically falls in November, but the exact date changes from year to year.
What is the purpose or significance of Loi Krathong?
The celebration serves several purposes. One is to show gratitude to the Goddess of Water, another is to wash away or let go of sins and celebrate a new beginning. The festival is also a time for families to come together and for couples to celebrate their of Love to celebrate.
How is Loi Krathong celebrated?
The celebrations include various activities. The main attraction is the release of Krathongs onto a body of water. There are also often fireworks displays, local festivals, parades, live performances and, in some areas, best-looking krathong competitions or beauty pageants
What is a Krathong?
A krathong is a small raft or basket, traditionally made from the trunk of the banana plant and decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles and incense sticks. More recently, environmentally friendly materials have become more popular to reduce negative impacts on waterways.
