On Nov 21 Thailand will infuse its waterways with light. The Loy Kratong festival is an annual Thai celebration that sees tiny boats made of banana leaf filled with flowers and candles set afloat in Thailand’s rivers and streams. The tradition is said to have begun in the 13th century when a young queen made a small boat adorned with candles and sent it down the river. There are many ideas as to why she did it, including origins to both Buddhism and Hindu tradition. However, the most popular theory for the Loy Kratong festival originates to a ritual honoring Phra Mae Kongka, the goddess of water. The construction of colorful boats was a way of not only giving thanks for the abundance of water, but also a way to seek forgiveness for overuse and pollution. Today Loy Kratong is a way for people to make a wish and look toward the future.
November: Thailand’s time to shine
Loy Kratong is celebrated across Thailand, but the best place to join the festivities is Sukhothai, an ancient city about 280 miles north-east of Bangkok. The journey will take travelers seven to eight hours by car and daily flights out of Bangkok take less than two hours. Not only is November a busy month for Thai festivals, it also marks the beginning of the country’s dry season, the best time to visit Thailand. So it is recommended that travelers plan carefully to find flight and hotel deals as prices will go up. Loy Kratong is not a public holiday, so it won’t be as busy as some of the other celebrations. That said, travelers should keep an eye out for petty crime such as theft, but overall Thailand is generally a safe country to visit.
