Loy Krathong: A Festival of Gratitude and Environmental Awareness (Photo: bestprice.vn)

Loy Krathong is one of Thailand's oldest festivals. The word "Loy" means "to float," and "Krathong" refers to the decorated baskets, typically made from banana leaves, paper, or bread, that are floated on water.

Loy Krathong takes place annually on the evening of the full moon of the 12th lunar month of the Thai calendar. This year, the festival will be held on November 15 and 16. The festival unites people as they float Krathongs on rivers, accompanied by traditional Thai music, dance performances, and dazzling fireworks that light up the night sky.

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22-year old Saharathmongkol Koolmongkol from Prachuapkirikhan, Thailand, said Loy Krathong festival is of great importance to Thai people: "Thai people believe that the Mekong (mother of rivers) gives us water. We organize the festival to express our thank to the Mother of rivers for giving us water. Right now, the meaning has become broader with more implications. We celebrate the Loy Krathong festival to remind people to protect the water, to save the water, and to save the environment."

At the Loy Krathong festival, Thai people float small, decorated baskets, called krathongs, on the water. This tradition is a way to thank the water genies for providing life-sustaining water and to ask for forgiveness for any harm done to the environment. The act of floating the krathong also symbolizes letting go of past anger and worries, allowing for a fresh start. In recent years, the festival is also an occasion to raise public awareness about environmental protection.

Jom said: “On the full moon night, we celebrate Loy Krathong together. We encourage ladies and gentlemen to float their Krathongs and sing that song together. We pray for everyone to be happy and lucky in the future.”

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An essential part of the festival is the Krathong itself. Saharathmongkol Koolmongkol says there are three popular types of Krathongs in Thailand today: "The traditional method uses banana leaves, which is more expensive and requires banana trees, banana leaves, flowers, nails, a hammer, chopsticks, and a candle—seven ingredients in total. You also need a lot of money and skill to make it. The method of using paper is cheaper than the traditional one because you only need paper, chopsticks, candles, glue, and scissors. Everyone can do it because it just needs glue to stick. The bread one appears because people think that fish can eat bread. It’s quite difficult because you need to have an oven to make bread, and people just buy it. It is not expensive, like 50 baht or 100 baht, depending on the size."

"My mom and dad buy banana leaves, paper, and bread to make krathong, so they help me make my own Krathong, and then I can decorate my krathong with some flowers. You can make the one-off Krathong in the world. It’s a special memory for me."

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Modern Adaptations and Environmental Awareness

The significance of the festival has never been lost, especially with the diversity and richness of the Krathongs floating on the river. In recent years, new ways have been introduced to address environmental issues during the Loy Krathong Festival. Jom Rushchano of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that in 2023, the Thai government noticed the problem of many Krathongs being released into rivers, oceans, and seas. To help protect the environment, they encouraged people to celebrate Loy Krathong online instead.

Thanks to the website, people can still send wishes to their loved ones through colorful virtual lanterns. Even people from distant countries who know about the festival can now experience it without worrying about the distance. Saharathmongkol said:

"If you type 'Loy Krathong online' in Google, it's going to show you every Thai Krathong. You can choose your favorite one and decorate it, and on some websites, you can color the Krathong. Then, before you 'loy' (to float), you can type your name, your wishes, your desires, and everything like 'I wish I had a good life this year,' and then you release. You can capture that Krathong, and you can send it to your family and friends."

Loy Krathong is more than just a festival; it is a symbol of gratitude, renewal, and environmental awareness. As Thailand continues to balance tradition with modernity, the festival stands as a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage while embracing sustainable practices. In doing so, Loy Krathong remains a beloved celebration that unites people in honoring both the past and the future.