The Loy Krathong Festival

by: Debbie Salcedo

Every year on the Full-Moon Day of the Twelfth Lunar Month, the Thais congregate to celebrate Loy Krathong Day, one of the most popular festivals of Thailand.

The celebration takes place right after the rainy season when the weather is fine and the water level is high all over the country.

"Loy" means "to float" and a "Krathong" is a lotus-shaped vessel made of banana leaves. The Krathong usually contains a candle, three joss sticks, some flowers and coins.

Brahmin in origin, the festival is held to offer thanks to the Goddess of the water. By the moonlight, people light the candles and joss-sticks, make a wish and launch their Krathongs on canals, rivers or even small ponds.

People of all walks of life carry their Krathongs to the nearby water bodies. After lighting candles and joss-sticks and making a wish, they gently place the Krathongs on the water and let them drift away till they go out of sight.

This act is believed to carry away sins and bad luck, and the wishes that have been made for the New Year. It is a time to be happy as the sufferings are floated away.

For travelers to Thailand, the Loy Krathong Festival is an occasion not to be missed. Everyone is encouraged to take part and share in the joy and happiness.

It is also tradition during the festival for a Beauty Queen Contest to be held. This contest is called "The Noppamas Queen Contest". Noppamas is a legendary figure from the Sukhothai period. Old documents refer to her as the chief royal consort of a Sukhothai Kng named "Lithai". Noppamas was said to have made the first decorated Krathong to float in the river on the occasion.

During the celebrations, kids sing a Thai song about the festival. The English version is as follows:

November full moon shines,
Loy Krathong, Loy Krathong,
and the water's high in the river and local klong,
Loy Loy Krathong, Loy Loy Krathong,
Loy Krathong is here and everybody's full of cheer,
We're together at the klong,
Each one with his krathong,
As we push away we pray,
We can see a better day.