10 Fascinating Facts About the Loy Krathong Festival You Didn’t Know

Last Updated on November 8, 2024

Loy Krathong is a beautiful light festival in the Kingdom of Thailand filled with luminous Krathongs in lotus shapes and incredible reflections in the water. This stunning celebration, commonly known as Diwali or “Festival of Lights,” has every individual pay respects to water deities, let go of all the ill-energy, and celebrate water that is such a necessity in everyone’s day. Even though Loy Krathong is celebrated across the globe, many interesting facts connected with the event are not quite well-known. Here, we will reveal 10 fascinating and spellbinding features of the Loy Krathong Festival that you probably hadn’t known existed. Here are 10 Fascinating Facts About the Loy Krathong Festival:

The Origins of Loy Krathong Date Back Over 700 Years

Many people are still determining the respectable origin of Loy Krathong, but most historians estimated it to be in the 13th Sukhothai period. According to some evidence, it existed as a deity worship, mentioning Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, and other lords, and it slowly evolved into Buddhist art. Thus, Loy Krathong gradually has a religious meaning dedicated to the river goddess Phra Mae Khongkha, and the event is deeply associated with water and nature.

It Is Celebrated on the Full Moon of the 12th Lunar Month

The Loy Krathong festival is celebrated on the night when the sky is full moon in the 12th lunar month, which is usually in November but best enjoyed when flooded. The event celebrates the importance of water in our lives and the act of letting go by lighting candles, which signifies washing one’s soul and accepting new blessings under the full moon. Loy Krathong is celebrated depending on the lunar date, so none of the celebrations of this festival are similar to others.

“Loy Krathong” Means “To Float a Basket”

In Loy Krating’s formation, participants float a basket of banana leaves decorated with flowers and candles in a river or water. Loei and Krathong are derived from the Thai language, where loei means float and Krathong is a float chiefly made of a banana stem. Marshallian krathongs are adorned with flowers, candles, and incense and gently float in the rivers and lakes. This act is usually a way of washing away worries, evil doings, and occurrences; hence, it is a way of washing away negativity and misfortune.

Each Krathong Contains Symbolic Offerings

In putting together every Krathong, there are offerings to pay homage to the many parts of the face that represent both male and female. After lighting, each krathong contains more than flowers and candles; people put such things as hair strands, nail clipping, or even coins. These items symbolize letting go of negative energy, previous wrong deeds or phases in one’s life, or things one wants to do away with. Interestingly, by including such tokens, one is purging themselves symbolically, creating space for new things. Krathongs also may contain small food offerings for the river spirits, so they want to eat and help maintain the light.

A Legend Attributes Loy Krathong to Nang Noppamas

Even though many Thais think that the Loy Krathong Festival was initiated during the Sukhothai period in the fourteenth century by Nang Noppamas, the beautiful consort of a Sukhothai king, she made the first Krathong in the shape of a lotus to pay honor to the river deities. History has it that upon admiring her beauty, the king persuaded the rest of the people to follow the same pattern as her. In today’s festival, Nang Noppamas is honored as grace and beauty, and many regions have beauty contests in honor of her name.

It’s Celebrated Differently Across Thailand

Since Loy Krathong is famous worldwide, Thailand’s polluted areas customarily observe the event. For instance, the Chiang Mai festival is held alongside Yi Peng, where people send sky lanterns called khom loi into the air and produce beautiful aerial light shows. However, in Sukhothai, where the Loy Krathong festival originated, the celebrations are more official: large-scale parades and demonstrations near the ruins of ancient temples.

Loy Krathong Is Not an Official Public Holiday

While Thais and foreign visitors enjoy the beauty of the event, it is essential to note that Loy Krathong per se is not an official holiday in Thailand’s calendar. Sch and offices mainly function during the day, but festivities start in the evening. A lot of Thais use their free time after working hours to involve themselves in the celebrations, organizing a group of family and friends who chase after the nearby water masses to launch their floating lanterns, which is why it is considered quite important even if it has no official status in the country.

Loy Krathong Also Symbolizes a Connection to Buddhist Teachings

Loy Krathong also represents a link to Buddhis. This is when the time to give thanks and make merit to the Buddha. In this process of letting go of the krathong, the people also share, ask for forgiveness, and be grateful. Ceremonial washing is seen as an opportunity to say sorry for any abuse of water and to pay our respect to it and to nature in general since people are Buddhists and regard water as a sacred gift that demands mindfulness and compassion.

Biodegradable Krathongs Are Gaining Popularity

Another issue that arose recently is the consideration of the environmental effects of using Krathong in the festival of Loy. This is why the Krathong part of the traditional Thai New Year can be made of banana leaves, bread, or any natural material, as such floats in water, feeds fish, and does not pollute water. Nonetheless, such materials as styrofoam in the present day were once in high use, but the pollution that resulted from them was alarming. Lately, it has become much more preferable to buy biodegradable krathongs, and some cities such as Bangkok have even promoted the movement of the ‘eco-loy krathong.’

Loy Krathong Attracts Thousands of Tourists Annually

Loy Krathong has, over the years, evolved into one of Thailand’s uniquely colorful festivals that have been attracting tourists from different corners of the world to witness its beauty in addition to its features at the cultural level. Famous cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Sukhothai are also most frequented during this season, and people, both Thai and foreigners, throng riverside, lakeside, and canalside to enjoy this enchanting festival. Everyone gets involved; hotels, tour operators, and local trade organize entertainment programs and activities, transforming Loy Krathong into a globally acclaimed festive activity.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Loy Krathong Festival

What is the significance of the candle on the krathong?

A candle represents light and is, therefore, most effective in driving away related vices, such as darkness. When participants light the candle, they call for blessings, hope, and positivity to fill their lives.

Why do people add coins to their krathong?

Small offerings of coins to water spirits are put in the water because the spirits are said to bestow the gift of water. Others think placing a coin will help augment luck and fortune in the new year.

Can anyone participate in Loy Krathong?

Tourists are more than welcome to participate in Loy Krathong. It is a lovely and friendly function. Anyone can make a krathong and participate in its release during the festival.

What is the difference between Loy Krathong and Yi Peng?

The first is called Loy Krathong, during which people set floating baskets adrift on a body of water. The second is Yi Peng, which is performed mainly in the northern part of the country and involves sky lanterns. During their New Year festival, the people of Chiang Mai observe both floating krathongs and sky lanterns simultaneously.

Are there any restrictions on what materials can be used in a krathong?

Local governments in several cities offer incentives to the public to ensure they use eco-friendly products such as banana leaves, flowers, and bread for waste disposal. Styrofoam and plastic products are frowned upon or flat-out prohibited in many places.

How long does Loy Krathong last?

The festival usually lasts only one evening, starting at sunset and ending at night. But in some cities, such as Chiang Mai and Sukhothai, celebrations may take weeks, including processions, competitions, and various cultural re-enactments.

Loy Krathong is a festival of lights by float at least, which gives people a remarkable unity of hope, reflection, and the beauty of nature. It is a time to let go of the past years and accept the new things coming into the future. This incredible celebration gives Thailand’s social, cultural, and religious identity, as well as the genuine love of nature that Thais hold dear, an insight, transforming Loy Krathong into one of the most treasured Thai ceremonies along with turning it into a spiritually and emotionally charged event for those who participate.