Loy Krathong 2011 among the floods in Bangkok

Loy Krathong 2011 among the floods in Bangkok

Loi Krathong or Loy Krathong ( ลอยกระทง ) is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and other countries around.

Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in the month of November.
Loy literally means "to float" while krathong refers to the lotus-shaped receptacle which can float on the water.

Originally, the krathong was made of banana leaves or the layers of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. A krathong contains food, betel nuts, flowers, joss sticks, candle and coins. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or styrofoam. A bread krathong will disintegrate in a few a days and be eaten by fish and other animals. The traditional banana stalk krathongs are also biodegradable.

On the 10th of November 2011 we have chosen to attend to Loy Krathong in one of the 16 or 18 parks opened in Bangkok for this celebration, more exactly in the Lumpini Park which is on the Witthayu Rd. This is a nice park right in the middle of the business district of Bangkok and it has entrance from Silom, Sathorn, Witthayu and Rachadamri roads.

Loy Krathong floating- Bangkok parks

There were not to many people due to the floodings in Thailand so the ones that had the time went to the park and float the krathong which also has a candle and a few incense sticks as a part of the design. People also put a few coins on the krathong and then make it float on the water just after lighting the candle and the incense sticks. It is pretty nice, an occasion that makes people do activities and be together in the same place.


The next dates for Loy Krathong celebrations in Thailand and Bangkok are:

Year  - Date Full moon of the 12th Thai month
2010 - 21 November
2011 - 10 November
2012 - 28 November

There are many activities normally organized during this festival in Thailand, for example river cruises, fireworks in various places of Bangkok, there are many festivities around the temples (called ngan wat) and these are really nice.

You can drop us a line (using the contact page) if you want to know more about Loy Krathong festivities or plan a trip to Thailand!