“The most spectacular and romantic festival which is observed throughout the country where ever there is water and love.”

Loy Krathong has been the most romantic festival of Thailand, especially in modern times. Almost without exception, young lovers will go out in pairs to spend the evening together, floating their special Krathong and saying silent prayers.
The Krathong are very special boats made from banana leaves that hold little offerings and lighted candles.
This is an evening for walking from place to place while watching people enjoying themselves.

Loy Krathong has traditionally been held on the full moon day of the 12th lunar month. Ancient Thais had very good reasons for their choice of the date as this is when the rainy season had ended but the Central Plains area was still flooded by water from upstream and water was everywhere.
This tradition has been observed for no less than 700 years since the Sukhothai period (1238-1438). According to a written account, Nopphamat, a lady of the Sukhothai Court, made the first Krathong in the shape of a lotus, and presented it to the king for the 3-day royal ceremony held to observe the festival.

The word “Loy” means to float and “Krathong” means a receptacle traditionally made of banana leaf and used for holding food, flowers and other offerings. So “Loy Krathong” simply means to float such vessels on water, filled with flowers, lighted candles and joss sticks
This is done either as a thankful giving and worship to the Goddess of Water, or as a kind of homage paying to the legendary footprint the Buddha left on the bank of the River Narmada in India.

For more pictures of the Loy Krathong festival, I invite you to check flickr!