Loi Krathong is a Thai festival celebrated to honor Buddha - Siddharth Gautama, as well as the Thai Water Goddess – Phra Mae Khongkha. During the Loi Krathong festival, people build a ‘Krathong’ - A small raft, the diameter of which measures about a hand span. This raft is decorated with banana leaves folded in various shapes, flowers, incense sticks and candles. These rafts are then floated (Loi – to float) on a river. The festival is celebrated on a full moon night of the 12th month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar. Today, instead of banana leaves, many people (esp. large government offices) create huge, elaborate rafts with styrofoam and other synthetic materials.
The floating of rafts symbolizes letting go of grudges and anger in order to start life anew. The candle on the raft is to venerate the Buddha. Most people will also add their finger nails or hair to the raft, symbolizing letting go of personal vices. People believe that floating a Krathong will bring them good luck. Apart from raft floating, the Loi Krathong celebrations also include fireworks, Krathong contests as well as beauty contests, known as ‘Noppamas Queen Contests’ in the memory of Noppamas, a consort of the Sukothai King Loethai, who initiated the tradition of Loi Krathong.
This same tradition is followed under a different name in Chiang Mai – here it is known as “Yi Peng” Along with Krathongs, people here also float hot-air lanterns called Khom Fai on the water. These resemble giant fluorescent jellyfish floating through sky and are believed to help locals rid themselves of troubles. Sometimes people use these lanterns to decorate their houses as well
Historically, according to the writings of His Majesty King Rama IV in 1863, the Loi Krathong festival was adapted by Thai Buddhists from the Brahmanic Indian festival of ‘Deepavali’ during which Indians float lanterns on the Ganges to honor the river Goddess.
Loi Krathong is a festival combining many cultural, religious and traditional aspects of Thai beliefs and if you enjoy such festivals and celebrations, you will have a wonderful time in Bangkok. Make sure you reserve your Bangkok service apartment in advance, as these accommodations are excellent whether you are traveling alone or with others.
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