A Festival of Water and Light
Loy Krathong is celebrated across Thailand to seek forgiveness from the Goddess of Water, illuminating the rivers with candlelit krathong
Loy Krathong, or the Festival of Lights, is one of the most popular festivals in Thailand. Originally a ritual to honor and seek forgiveness from the Goddess of Water, the festival is celebrated across the kingdom, illuminating entire rivers with candlelit krathong.
The event is held annually on the night of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, this year falling on November 27th, 2023, coinciding with Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng Festival.
In Thai, the word loy means “float” and krathong means “container, boat, or vessel,” hence people float a krathong decorated with candles and flowers onto rivers and canals (or anywhere with water!).
