Loi Krathong: Thailand’s Festival of Lights

Some days feel dark.

Very dark.

It is a truism that the best way to combat darkness is to shine a lamp or light a candle.

Loi Krathong  (ลอยกระทง) is Thailand’s own festival of lights. On the evening of the twelfth full-moon of the traditional Thai lunar calendar, Thais – and lucky visitors – congregate around a body of water and float (loi; ลอย) krathong (กระทง), or banana-leaf boats. 

There are a number of stories about the festival’s origins: the most popular being that it was started by a lady in the court of Sukhothai Kingdom (1238 – 1583) to give thanks to the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha (พระแม่คงคา). The more likely explanation is that it is a Thai Buddhist adaptation of an old Brahman festival.

Traditionally, the floats are home-made using sections of banana stem as a foundation, although modern versions might be built on styrofoam (discouraged because of the environmental effects) or bread. The base is covered with banana leaf, and then decorated elaborately with folded banana leaf and flowers before small candles and sticks of incense are added. Sometimes a small coin is placed on the banana-leaf boat as an offering to the water spirits, or hair and fingernail clippings might be included as a symbol of letting go of past transgressions or negative thoughts. The boats are set out on the waters, where they are carried off on the currents, or eventually sink to the bottom of the pools or ponds they’ve been launched in.

My husband and I made our own krathong one year from materials our Thai teacher had brought into class for us. While we had fun constructing them, they were neither as large nor as elaborate as the one’s Thais make for themselves every year.

Before setting your krathong afloat, you light the incense and the candle – the candle venerates the Buddha – and you make a wish or say a prayer. As the basket drifts away on the currents of the water, you let it carry away any hatred, anger, or negativity that was in your heart. 

Please enjoy some photos from Loi Krathongs past.

This year, Loi Krathong is Monday November 14th; I think I might have to build myself a float.

Light a candle, say a payer, and hope for a better tomorrow.

Until next time,

Stay Well!

Pictures: 21November2010 and 06November2014