Loi Krathong, Sukhothai

On the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, Thais throughout the kingdom will float their Krathong on the nearest waterway. This is the time of Loi Krathong or the ‘festival of light’, one of Thailand’s best-preserved traditions.

A krathong is generally made from banana leaves and contains food, betel nuts, flowers, joss sticks, candle and a coin. The ritual is simple. You light the candle and joss sticks and make a wish and let it float on the river believing that the krathong will carry all your troubles of the previous year away. It is believed that if the flame continues to burn, it will bring longevity and your wishes are granted. For young couple, this is a romantic night as they make their wish that their relationship will last a long time.

In Thailand, the festival is believed to start 700 years ago in the ancient Thai capital of Sukhothai. The legend has it that the favourite royal consort of King Maha Thammaraja named Nang Noppanas was a lady of great artistic talent. She took great delight in shaping lotus shaped Krathong’s from banana leaves to make floating lanterns. After her Krathong received the top prize from the king. He went onto decree that from that day forward, once a year on the night of the full moon, a celebration should be held by floating lotus-shaped banana-leaf boats. That is the Loi Krathong festival was born.

Nowadays, the festival is celebrated nationwide. However, Sukhothai hosts the biggest and most spectacular event in the country. The event is celebrated in the Sukhothai Historical Park, northern Thailand. Sukhothai, which means the dawn of happiness, was perhaps the first capital of the Thai Kingdom. Founded in 1238 AD, Sukhothai adopted the Ceylonese school of Theravada Buddhism and King Ramkhamhaeng invited Ceylonese monks to come and purify Buddhism in the Kingdom.

Paper balloons or Yi Peng Khom lanterns are also released to the air and believed to carry misfortune away with them. Hundreds of floating lit lanterns will then float in the sky, setting a gorgeous scene in the sky.

The beauty contest for ‘The Noppanas Queen”, light and sound shows and other festivities are held in most temples in the Sukhothai city.