One of the most popular festivals in early November is the Loy Krathong Festival. It takes place at a time when the weather is fine as the rainy season is over and there is a high water level all over the country.

 

“Loy” means “to float” and a “Krathong” is a lotus- shaped vessel made of banana leaves. The Krathong usually contain a candle, three joss-stick, some flowers and coins.

 

In fact, the festival is of Brahmin origin in which people offer thanks to the Goddess of the water. Thus, by moonlight, people light the candles and joss-sticks, make a wish and launch their Krathong on canals, rivers or even small ponds. It is believed that the Krathongs carry away sins and bad luck, and the wishes that have been made for the new year due to start. Indeed, it is the time to be joyful and happy as the sufferings are floated away.

 

The festival starts in the evening when there is a full moon in the sky. People of all walk of life carry their Krathongs to the nearby rivers, 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.

 

A Beauty Queen Contest is an important part of the festival and for this occasion it 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 King named “Lithai”. Noppamas was said to have made the first decorated Krathong to float in the river on the occasion.

 

In Bangkok, major establishments such as leading hotels and amusement parks organize their Loy Krathong Festival and the Krathong contest as major annual function.

 

For visitors to Thailand, the Loy Krathong Festival is an occasion not to be missed. The festival is listed in the tourist calendar. Everyone is invited to take part and share the joy and happiness.

“Loi Krathong” is traditionally performed on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, which usually falls on some day in November. The floating of a ‘Krathong' – a banana–leaf cup – is intended to float away ill fortune as well as to express apologies to Khongkha or Ganga, the River Goddess. Some believe that the ritual is meant to worship the Buddha's footprint on the bank of the Narmada River, while others say that it is to pay respect to Phra Uppakhut, one of the Lord Buddha's great disciples.

The Loi Krathong Festival is celebrated nationwide in Thailand, especially where there are rivers, canals or sources of water, with different unique characteristics.

The full moon of the twelfth lunar month is the day that people celebrate Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand.

Loy Krathong Festival is one of the most beautiful festivals in Thailand which people celebrate all over Thailand. Loy means to float and a Krathong is the lotus shaped vessel traditionally made of banana leaves. The Krathong contains a candle, joss sticks, flowers and coins. Loy Krathong takes place on the full moon of 12 Lunar month, which is in the alter part of October or November. It fell on Wednesday November 16th this year; we celebrated Loy Krathong at BCIS on the day which is the actual day. We had dance shows with teachers dressed up in traditional Thai clothes, doing the Ram Lau Gratop Mai or bamboo dance, and students called A Plus doing a Loy Krathong rap.

Miss Noppamart, the legendary figure from Sukhothai period, a beautiful and an artistic lady in the royal court of Sukhothai some 700 years ago was chosen by the King as having the best Krathong.

We all believe that the Krathongs will carry away our bad luck and we also thank the goddess of water and ask her to forgive us for polluting the water in many various ways.

We celebrate Loy Krathong every year and it was successful with cooperation, assistance and participation of students, staff, and parents of British (Curriculum) International School.

Thai Studies is responsible to organize Loy Krathong celebration. This is another year that we all really enjoy.

Loy Krathong Day is one of the most popular festivals of Thailand celebrated annually on the Full-Moon Day of the Twelfth Lunar Month. It takes place at a time when the weather is fine as the rainy season is over and there is a high water level 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.

 

In fact, the festival is of Brahmin origin in which people offer thanks to the Goddess of the water. Thus, by moonlight, people light the candles and joss-sticks

make a wish and launch their Krathongs on canals, rivers or even small ponds. It is believed that the Krathongs carry away sins and bad luck, and the wishes that have been made for the new year due to start. Indeed, it is the time to be joyful and happy as the sufferings are floated away.

The festival starts in the evening when there is a full moon in the sky. People of all walks of life carry their Krathongs to the nearby rivers. 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.

 

For visitors to Thailand, the Loy Krathong Festival is an occasion not to be missed. the festival is listed in the tourist calendar. Everyone is invited to take part and share the joy and happiness.