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The Loy Krathong Festival is one of the most
colorful Thai festivals celebrated nationwide.
Processions of beautiful girls dressed in
traditional costumes carry floral floats that are
floated on rivers and lakes. Each province has its
special features in celebrating this annual
Festival of Lights.
In Bangkok the highlight of the Loy Krathong
Festival was a procession of boats from the Royal
Thai Navy decorated with various designs and
lights presented by various organizations held
nightly from 13 - 16 November 2005.
It was a spectacular floating kaleidoscope
flickering in the night along the Chao Phraya
River from the Taksin Bridge to King Rama VIII
Bridge against a backdrop of historical monuments
lighted up for the occasion.
The Loy Krathong tradition
What's the significance of this festival beyond
the color and pageantry?
The Loy Krathong Festival is a 13th century
Sukhothai tradition of Brahmin origin, adapted to
Buddhism, to give thanks to the Goddess of water
and to seek forgiveness for past misdeeds.
This tradition is particularly strong in
agricultural societies where the river gives life
and sustenance in a close bond between Man and
Nature. To the millions of farmers dependant on
its source of water, the Chao Phraya is the river
of life.
Held on the 15th night of the new moon in the
twelve-month of the Thai calendar, the Loy
Krathong Festival usually falls in the third or
fourth week of November.
The Loy Krathong ritual
In the ritual, the person kneels by the water,
says a prayer, makes a wish, asks for forgiveness
and floats (loy) off the lighted krathong.
Courting couples float off a krathong together
under the full moon and watch as the krathong
drifts towards the fulfillment of their dreams.
Making the krathong
Made entirely from natural material,
traditional krathongs consist of a small slice of
banana trunk to serve as the float, which is
decorated with banana leaves, multi-colored
orchids, lotus and bright yellow marigolds, a
candle and three joss sticks.
In the old days, sharpened wooden slivers are
used to pin the leaves. Nails and staples have
replaced these today. It's customary to leave some
coins and a strain of your hair in the krathong to
bring in good fortune and carry away the bad.
Merrymaking on Loy Krathong night
Locally the Loy Krathong Festival is celebrated
at various locations near the Chao Phraya River,
which are buzzing with activity, heightening as
one reaches the riverbanks.
Roads to the piers are filled with vendors and
buskers as crowds patiently inch their way to the
banks packed with people of all ages. Many queue
for boats to float their krathongs mid-stream. The
celebration goes on for the whole night with more
people arriving in the early hours.
Protecting the environment
Cleaning up the rivers and canals after the
festival is a formidable task. On 17 November
2005, the morning after, it took 4,000 cleaners to
retrieve 1.2 million krathongs in Bangkok alone!
The City administration discourages the use of
Styrofoam, as these are non-biodegradable. The
more enterprising have baked bread in the shape of
krathongs that are consumed by fishe
Towards a better tomorrow
As fireworks burst overhead lighting the dark
Bangkok skies, another Loy Krathong Festival comes
to an end. Meanwhile the krathongs drift along the
Chao Phraya carrying with them the hopes of
thousands wishing for a better tomorrow.
If you're in Bangkok during the next Loy
Krathong Festival, view the festivities at any of
the
Chao Phraya river piers. For a panoramic view,
stay at one of the
riverside hotels or take a river cruise by
night.
About the Author
Experience the color and vibrancy of the
Loy Krathong Festival next November when you
Tour Bangkok Legacies. The author, Eric Lim,
is a free-lance writer who lives in Bangkok
Thailand. |
