In the midst of the hundreds of lanterns crowding the skyline, a mother and her small daughter light their own humble lantern bought with the little money they had.. After joining hands in silent prayer, they slowly lean down to the edge of the river, letting their own krathong drift away… This festival is the Loy Krathong Festival, which consists of making krathongs, participating in beauty competitions, and much more. All in all, the Loy Krathong festival in Thailand is remarkable for its celebration of new beginnings, the significance of national history, and the importance of culture and tradition.
The Loy Krathong Festival is a symbol of new beginnings for many citizens of Thailand. During the festival, people build krathongs, or small boats, fill them with incense, and set them afloat on the river. This symbolizes an offering to the goddess Phra Mae Khongkha. Phra Mae Khongkha is the Thai name for the Hindu goddess Ganga, the personification of the river Ganges. The villagers send their offerings on the krathongs as tokens of gratitude towards the goddess for providing them with water from the river, as well as praying for forgiveness for littering or wasteful use of water. The construction of krathongs is very unique. There is a circular base of a banana stem with leaves folded into rectangular shapes to border the base. Finally, it is topped with flowers, candles, or incense sticks as an omen to let one’s bad luck float away. The making of krathongs represents respect and gratitude for nature that provide the people of Thailand with the materials necessary to celebrate craftsmanship rooted deeply within Thai culture. These types of krathongs have been made for centuries and are of utmost importance to the participants of the festival.
Furthermore, the festival is a unique celebration of Thailand’s national history. According to the origin story of Loy Krathong, in the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai, a woman named Nang Noppamas crafted a krathong so unique that the King put his own offerings and incense in it and set it afloat on the river. From that point on, krathongs were constructed from the template using banana leaves and stems, just like the original one made by Nang Noppamas. Not only that, but a beauty contest is held each year between the ladies to see who deserves the title of “Nang Noppamas”. Throughout these events, people keep the spirit of the myth alive for generations to come, allowing the people to embrace and celebrate their nationwide roots.
Ultimately, the Loy Krathong festival is a festival of celebration as well as a reflection of the culture’s deep traditions. The celebration highlights the commitment to the origin story of the first krathong, as well as respect and homage to the gods, showing Thailand’s captivating culture and tradition. From the creation of floats to the beauty competitions, the festival encaptures a feeling of family and home to the people in Thailand.
