Loy Krathong
On the night of the full moon in the 12th lunar month (usually November), Thailand celebrates Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง) — a festival of breathtaking beauty in which millions of small floating offerings are released onto rivers, lakes, canals, and ponds across the kingdom. Each krathong carries a candle, incense, and flowers, creating a shimmering carpet of light on the water as Thais give thanks to the water goddess, release negative energy, and make wishes for the year ahead.
If Songkran is Thailand's most exuberant celebration, Loy Krathong is its most ethereal.
The Name
- Loy (ลอย) — To float
- Krathong (กระทง) — A small floating vessel, traditionally made from a cross-section of banana tree trunk, decorated with folded banana leaves, flowers, a candle, and three sticks of incense
Origins
The festival's origins are debated:
- The traditional story credits a Sukhothai-era court lady named Noppamas (or Nang Nopphamat) with creating the first krathong to float during a court celebration, impressing King Ramkhamhaeng. Noppamas is celebrated annually with beauty contests.
- The Brahmanical/Hindu origin connects the festival to the worship of the water goddess Mae Khongkha (Ganges), giving thanks for the water that sustains life and asking forgiveness for polluting it.
- The Buddhist interpretation frames the floating of the krathong as releasing negative emotions, bad luck, and grudges — sending them downstream and starting fresh.
In practice, all three meanings coexist. Thais light their krathong with a candle, make a wish, say a prayer, and release it onto the water — often adding a strand of hair and a fingernail clipping to symbolically release a part of themselves with their troubles.
The Krathong
Traditional krathongs are biodegradable — made from banana trunk, banana leaves, and flowers. Modern Thailand has seen problems with polystyrene krathongs polluting waterways, and environmental campaigns now strongly promote natural materials. Many vendors sell bread-based krathongs that fish can eat.
A krathong typically includes:
- A candle (centre)
- Three incense sticks
- Flowers (marigolds, orchids, lotus)
- Coins (for merit-making)
- Optionally: a strand of hair and fingernail clipping
Yi Peng (Chiang Mai)
In northern Thailand, Loy Krathong coincides with the Lanna festival of Yi Peng (ยี่เป็ง) — the release of khom loi (sky lanterns). Thousands of paper lanterns, illuminated by small flames, are released into the night sky, creating an otherworldly scene of floating fire rising above the temples and old city moat.
The combination of krathongs on the water and lanterns in the sky makes Chiang Mai's Loy Krathong/Yi Peng celebration one of the most magical spectacles in all of Asia.
Events in Chiang Mai
- Ping River krathong release — The Iron Bridge area is a popular release point
- Mae Jo University — The mass lantern release (traditionally held a few days before Loy Krathong night) is the most photographed and famous event. Thousands of lanterns released simultaneously.
- Old City moat — Krathongs float along the moat, illuminated against the ancient walls
- Tha Phae Gate — Performances, parades, beauty contests, and food markets
Note: Fire safety is a genuine concern. Sky lanterns have caused fires, and their release is increasingly regulated. Bangkok has banned sky lanterns; Chiang Mai permits them but with restrictions.
Celebrating Across Thailand
| Location | Special Character |
|---|---|
| Sukhothai Historical Park | The most traditional celebration. Light-and-sound show amid the ruins. Beauty pageant. Fireworks reflected in the lotus ponds. The "original" Loy Krathong. |
| Chiang Mai | Yi Peng sky lanterns + river krathongs. The most visually spectacular celebration. |
| Bangkok — Chao Phraya River | Krathongs released from riverfront temples and parks. Asiatique and riverside hotels host special events. |
| Bangkok — Lumphini Park | Quieter, more local celebration. Krathongs on the park lake. |
| Tak | Unique tradition of floating 1,000 coconut-shell krathongs down the Ping River in a line — a spectacular river of fire. |
| Ayutthaya | Atmospheric celebrations around the ruins. |
The Music
Loy Krathong has its own anthem — one of the most recognised songs in Thailand:
"Wan pen deuan sip song, nam ko nong tem taling..."
("On the full moon of the twelfth month, the water is high to the banks...")
This lilting melody, composed in the 1940s, is played everywhere during the festival — on the radio, in shops, at temple celebrations. It is almost impossible to visit Thailand during Loy Krathong without hearing it dozens of times.
Practical Tips
- The festival falls on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month — typically mid-November, but check the exact date for your travel year.
- Make your own krathong at temple workshops or markets — a more meaningful experience than buying a pre-made one.
- Environmental responsibility — Choose a krathong made from natural materials (banana leaf, bread, or ice — yes, ice krathongs exist and melt cleanly).
- Couples' tradition — Loy Krathong is considered romantic. Couples release krathongs together, and the belief holds that if the candles stay lit and the krathongs float away together, the relationship will endure.
- Photography — Bring a tripod. The low-light, candle-lit scenes on water are spectacular but challenging to photograph handheld.