7/10 students and teachers here at iUP don’t know what Loy Krathong is. Do you? Loy Krathong is said to have dated back to the Sukhothai Kingdom well over 700 years ago. It originated from the romantic tale of Nang Noppamas, a lady-in-waiting who created the first krathong, and King Ramkhamhaeng. Nopphamat created a krathong as an offering for King Ramkhamhaeng, floating it down the river with a candle hoping to get his attention. Impressed by her skills and creativity, King Ramkhamhaeng not only praised Nang Noppamas but also integrated the tradition of floating krathongs into the annual festival (Tour East Group, 2023). This tale symbolizes the beauty of love and the harmony between humans and nature (Watanya, 2023). Many Thai people, like Mali Xayavong, a student here at IUP, find the significance in this festival for its cultural and emotional significance: “Loy Krathong is a very important festival that is dear to my heart.”
The main theme of Loy Krathong is to pay respects to the water spirits, ask for forgiveness for harm done to rivers and bodies of water, and make wishes for the future (Tour East Group, 2023). This is celebrated by offering/floating krathongs into bodies of water, often rivers or ponds. These krathongs are typically made of banana leaves, flowers, and biodegradable material. This symbolizes the cleansing of one’s spirit and letting go of negativity. If you float your krathong and it sinks, that means you have bad luck, or that your krathong was made poorly!
The term “Loy Krathong” means “Loy” (ลอย) “to float” and “Krathong” (กระทง) means “basket or boat”. Therefore, the phrase “Loy Krathong” (ลอยกระทง) means “to float a basket”. This Thai phrase is pronounced as loi-kra-tong.
This festival is often celebrated in Thailand and its neighboring countries such as Laos, Shan, Mon, Tanintharyi, Kelantan, Kedah, and Xishuangbanna. Thailand’s light festival takes place in the month of November, but the specific date changes every year. This is because this festival takes place on the lunar calendar, and not a traditional American calendar (Tour East Group, 2023).
I have many fond memories of celebrating Loy Krathong, just like many other Thai people including Mali. She says “My favorite memory is when I was younger at my local temple, my mæ̀ (mother) taught me about the importance of the Thai festival and why we celebrate it. I remember being so mesmerized by the krathong floating in our little pond at the temple. Even though I have a lot of fun celebrating it over here, I still reminisce about the times when I was in Thailand celebrating this big festival.”
I recently attended a Loy Krathong festival here at the Wat Thai Buddhist Temple in Dallas. There is a Thai food market that takes place every Sunday, serving real and authentic Thai street food. It tends to get packed in the afternoon, so I would suggest going at around 10am. They serve dishes such as pad Thai, Thai tea, and a plethora of sweets. Additionally, there is a beautiful temple where you can visit and pray to the monks. Thai school also takes place here where children of all ages learn Thai culture, musical instruments, and the Thai language. It also features a lovely koi fish pond, where I set my krathong afloat. They have many events at the Loy Krathong festival, from raffles, setting sail your krathong, dances, and a parade! Mali fondly recalls similar experiences in Thailand: “From seeing people making the krathong, putting it into the river, and walking around the late-night markets in their traditional Thai outfit, it all creates a sense of belonging and pride.”
Loy Krathong is a significant and meaningful celebration for the people of Thailand. As Mali explains, this celebration isn’t just about the lights but also about cherishing our culture and heritage: “Loy Krathong lets me have an opportunity to connect with my Thai heritage and understand Thai culture better.” Setting your krathong a float welcomes the good, and washes away the bad. Making your wishes come true, this festival brings people together to admire the beauty of the Earth and the lights shining bright.
Works Cited
“Loy Krathong.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Nov. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loy_Krathong#:~:text=Loy%20Krathong%20(Thai%3A%20%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%A2%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%87%2C,%2C%20Kedah%2C%20and%20Xishuangbanna)
“Loy Krathong: Festival of Lights and Water.” Tour East Group, www.toureast.net/news_blogs/loy-krathong-festival-of-lights-and-water#:~:text=Loy%20Krathong%20has%20deep%20historical,first%20krathong%2C%20and%20King%20Ramkhamhaeng
Watanya. “Loy Krathong Festival.” Laguna Phuket, 30 Oct. 2023, www.lagunaphuket.com/loy-krathong-in-thailand/#:~:text=Letting%20go%3A%20the%20meaning%20behind%20Loy%20Krathong%20Festival&text=It%20is%20a%20mesmerizing%20spectacle,negative%20thoughts%20and%20bad%20luck
