Every year, the Loy Krathong festival is celebrated in Thailand on the twelfth lunar month (usually in November) to pay respect to the goddess of water. This is one of the country’s most picturesque festivals. On the evening of the festival day people gather around lakes, rivers, canals and other waterways to release beautiful lotus shaped lanterns, rafts adorned with candles, incense sticks and flowers to the water. The sight of thousands of flickering candles floating in water makes it’s a truly enchanting sight and creates a lasting picture in your mind for many years.
On the day of Loy Krathong, festivities happen around the country and visitors too can be a part of this magical event. If you stay at one of the 5 Star Hotels in Bangkok such as the Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok which overlooks the Chao Phraya river you can not only rave on the unparalleled scenery on a day to day basis but be a part of this illuminating festival.
The history behind the Loy Krathong Festival is varied and the locals celebrate it for various reasons. Once the main rice harvest season is ended and as a way to thank the goddess of water for the year’s worth of abundant supply and as a way of apologizing for polluting the waters people celebrate this festival. Some Thais believe that this is the time to symbolically float away all anger and grudges that one may have held onto. Some even drop in a fingernail or a lock of hair as a way of letting go of the dark side or negativities that they may have and start fresh with a positive attitude. It is believed that if your candles stay lit until the Krathong is out of sight you are blessed with a year of good fortune.
Catalina Forbes is a travel writer who bases her content on many thrilling escapades experienced across the world.Google+
