Loy Krathong 2025

 

                   Loy Krathong [ลอยกระทง] is one of the biggest festivities in Thailand. It is when people take to the waters to release small, illuminated boat offerings made of banana stalks and leaves. Over the years the sight of lights floating across the country’s rivers and canals has become a point of intrigue for visitors from all over.

               But, where did this festival come from? What exactly is a krathong? And, why is water so central to this celebration?

 We are here to answer all that!

 What is Loy Krathong?

               Loy Krathong is a festival celebrated by the Thai people on the full moon night of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar. In the modern calendrical system, this event usually occurs in the month of November, though the date varies from year to year. Regardless of the exact timing, Loy Krathong is always considered as an occasion for joy, gratitude, and new beginnings.

              The term “Loy Krathong” is derived from word “loy”  – meaning “to float”- and the word “krathong” – which refers to type of small, floating religious offering. True to its name, the highlight of the festival is the floating of krathongs across small and large bodies of water all over the country. The objective for this act varies depending on customs and beliefs, but can be generally identified as follow:

1. The worship Phra Mae Khongkha

                   Phra Mae Khongkha is the Thai name for the Hindu goddess Ganga who is the personification of the river Ganges. When the Thai ancestors adopted Hinduism, they blend its teachings with local animistic beliefs. Thus, Ganga became worshipped as Phra Mae Khongkha – the goddess who personifies all bodies of water.

                   As an agricultural society, water has played a crucial role in the Thai way of living since ancient times. The element provides sustenance, while rivers, canals, and oceans acted as the main mode of transportation throughout the major part of Thai history. Thus, every year during the Loy Krathong festival, Thais float small boats of offerings as tokens of gratitude toward the goddess of water. They also use this opportunity to ask forgiveness for any wrongdoings they have committed upon the water, such as littering or wasteful usage.

2. The worship of Lord Buddha

                  When Prince Siddhartha decided to leave his worldly life behind, he cut off his topknot and adopted an ascetic lifestyle. The topknot was enshrined in a pagoda in the heavens and the prince went on to achieve enlightenment, becoming known as the Lord Buddha. Conveniently, legend also holds that all rivers flow down from the heavens. Thus, Thais float krathongs in rivers and other bodies of water, believing that the offerings will find their way to the heavenly pagoda. Another version of the legend tells that the Lord Buddha once left behind a footprint at the bank of the Nammatha river in India. Thus, Thais float krathongs in belief that the offerings will find their way to the sacred footprint.

3. The worship of Venerable Upagupta

                  Upagupta was a Budhist monk who, according to legend, was a spiritual teacher of the Indian Emperor Ashoka. The venerable master was said to have quelled the demon Mara during a religious celebration held by the emperor. In Myanmar, it is believed that Upagupta is still alive, residing in a recluse at the center of the ocean. This legend was later adopted by the certain parts of Thailand. Krathongs are float, according to this line of faith, as offerings for Upagupta.

4. The worship of Lord Vishnu

                Another belief with Hindu origins, the god Vishnu is said to be slumbering on a giant serpent in the Ocean. Thus, krathongs are float as offerings to Lord Vishnus, as all water ways lead to the sea.

5. The worship of ancestors

              Some people also float offerings to pay homage to their ancestors. This line of belief shares common traits with other celebrations such as the East Asian Lantern Festival.