Loy Krathong is an annual Thai festival that is celebrated during the evening of the full moon on the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar.
People celebrate by floating a Krathong (a decorated basket) down a river and making a wish. We attended celebrations at The Cape. Krathong are traditionally made from banana leaves but also bread or Styrofoam. Banana leaves are biodegradable, fish eat the bread but Styrofoam is a big no, no as they pollute the rivers and are quite rightly banned in some places.
Krathong’s are decorated with candles, incense sticks and coins as an offering to the river spirits. The candle symbolizes the light of the Buddha and the floating Krathong is a way of letting go of one’s hatred and anger.
It’s a very peaceful and beautiful festival to experience if you are in Thailand during November. It is also often accompanied with the Lanna festival or full moon day (Yi Peng).
Sky lanterns called Khom Loi are released into the night sky and resemble shoals of jellyfish. Khom Loi are made from rice paper stretched over a bamboo frame. A small candle heats up the trapped air allowing the Khom Loi to rise into the night sky. Again this is a beautiful site to behold especially in Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand.
Below are a series of photos of Katae and I making a traditional Krathong from banana leaves from our garden. Credit where credit is due, I only cut the banana tree, Katae did all the interesting work to produce our Krathong.
We want to hear how you celebrated Loy Kratong, so please leave your comments below and share your photos on Instagram using hashtag: #thinglishlifestyle.
Happy Loi Krathong
