It will be annual on November 19, 2021 Loi Krathong Festival celebrated in Thailand. In many different places in Thailand, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, there are evening activities and the 'Festival of Lights' is celebrated exuberantly.
Loy Krathong is celebrated each during the full moon of the 12e month the Thai lunar calendar. According to many, Loi Krathong is the most beautiful and impressive event in Thailand, an atmospheric feast of water and lights. Thousands of balloons and small boats with candles that illuminate the darkness like small stars. A beautiful face. Loy Krathong is also celebrated by the Thai community in the Netherlands.
Ancient tradition
The feast of Loy Krathong is an age-old tradition. Loy means to float and a Krathong is a small vessel, usually made of banana leaves in the past. Nowadays, the polluting styrofoam is also used. The Loy Krathong festival is held all over Thailand on the day of the full moon day (the 12th month according to the Thai lunar calendar, at the end of November). However, the name and celebrations vary from region to region.
Loy Krathong in Central Thailand
In Central Thailand, the Thai usually make Krathongs in the shape of a lotus flower. For this they use banana leaves, the bark of a banana tree, and other natural materials. During the course of the evening, they float the Krathongs up the river, carrying a lit candle, incense, and other decorations.
Some Thais add fingernails and hair to the Krathong to also float away any bad karma. Others place coins on the Krathong to offer alms to the Gods. The Thais of Central Thailand celebrate this ritual in honor of Buddha's footprint on the banks of the Nuntha Nathi River in Sri Lanka. And also to pay respect to the goddess of the river: “Mae Khongkha”.
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Loy Krathong in the Northern Region: 'Yi Pang'
In the northern region, Loy Krathong is celebrated differently. In Chiang Mai they call it “Yi Peng” which is a name from the local Lanna dialect. It means, the full moon of the 2nd month. It coincides with the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar. The northern Thai decorate the houses and temples with lanterns and also let the Krathongs float on the river. Another spectacular sight is the release of hundreds of burning lanterns that illuminate the dark sky. Soon after, fireworks are lit.
There are many names for Krathong, such as Loy Fai or Long Sapao. In the North, they follow the Burmese belief of worshiping the monk Phra Ouppakutt (Phra Bua Keam) who meditated deep under the sea. They also express gratitude to the king of Hongsawadee.
Loy Krathong Sai Festival
In the province of Changwat Tak on the border with Burma, the party is called “Loy Krathong Sai” or “Pra Thep Phan Duang” (thousand floating candles). Here both banana leaf boats and the shell of a coconut are decorated with candles. Then they are connected to each other in a long chain of glittering lights. Hence the origin of the name, “Loi Krathong Sai”.
Lai Rue Fai Festival in the Northeast
In the Northeast region (Isan), Loy Krathong is called “Lai Rue Fai” (the festival of floating illuminated boats). The boats are made from the trunk of a banana tree, bamboo or other floating materials and decorated with candles and lanterns. The floating works of art are in the form of a Jedi, swan, Naga (serpent king) and Garuda. Large boats are also made, sometimes up to six meters long. The Thai let them float in the Mekong River.
Origin of Loy Krathong
There are many stories about the origin and origin of Loy Khratong in Thailand. Some say it is a ritual to honor Buddha's footprint on the banks of the Nuntha Nathi River in Sri Lanka. Others believe it is to pay respect to the Chulamanee Goddess, who welcomed Buddha on his return to heaven. There is also a version that says that the festival pays respect to the Goddess of the Ganges.
Historians believe that the festival is based on the Indian worship of Brahma, the Tam Phratep or Teepa Waree. In India, Loy Khratong is a ritual for worshiping Trimurti. Trimurti is the name for the three main aspects of Ishvara in Hinduism. She is also referred to as the Hindu Trinity. These are Brahma the creator, Vishnu the maintainer and Devo Maheshvara (Shiva) the destroyer.
The Thai people have adopted the worship of Brahma along with other worships associated with Thai agriculture. Water plays an important role in this. Water is of great importance in the daily life of a Thai. That is why the Thais honor the Goddess of the river “Mae Khongkha”.
The Loy Khratong festival has become a Thai tradition that is known and loved all over the world.
About this blogger
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Known as Khun Peter (62), lives alternately in Apeldoorn and Pattaya. In a relationship with Kanchana for 14 years. Not yet retired, have my own company, something with insurance. Crazy about animals, especially dogs and music.
Enough hobbies, but unfortunately little time: writing for Thailandblog, fitness, health and nutrition, shooting sports, chatting with friends and some other oddities.
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During one of my first Thailand trips, about 7 years ago, I was able to experience this spectacle. I get goosebumps when I think about it. Such an intense experience.
First of all, it was very impressive how the Beach Road in Pattaya was completely occupied by hundreds of stands with flower arrangements in all shapes and colors, and in all price ranges. There was a buzz of activity. Many pieces were made on site by handy Thais who apparently also excelled in flower arranging.
I bought a medium sized one for both myself and my girlfriend. The prices are Thai style, very cheap.
My girlfriend explained to me that I had to put a hair in her 'boat' and she had one in mine. The candles and incense sticks were lit and then we gave those 2 flower arrangement boats to a little boy who took them into the sea for a tip so that we could stay dry. So our pieces were launched side by side and floated in the sea. We saw the candles flickering in the night.
After a while my girlfriend said: 'see how our pieces stay together, this means we are to stay together'. Goosebumps.
(NB: the next day the view of the faded pieces in the sea was a dump, a pity)