Loy Krathong - the Thai festival of lights on the full moon of November
Loy Krathong is a Thai festival held on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, falling in November. Participants float decorated krathong (small lotus-shaped vessels) on rivers, canals, and ponds to honor the goddess of water and to symbolically release misfortune.
Religious observancePublished October 11, 2026
- Observed in
- Where observed in 4 countries
- When
- November
- Frequency
- Lunar calendar (date shifts)
- Days off
- 0 days - cultural observance only
- Public status
- Religious observance - schools / shops normally open
Loy Krathong is a Thai festival held on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, falling in November. Participants float decorated krathong (small lotus-shaped vessels) on rivers, canals, and ponds to honor the goddess of water and to symbolically release misfortune from the past year. The festival is observed across Thailand and in parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia.
The one-line summary
A Thai festival of lights observed on the full moon of the 12th lunar month. Participants float decorated krathong on water to honor the goddess of water. In Northern Thailand, Yi Peng coincides with Loy Krathong and adds sky lanterns to the celebration.
Origin
The origins of Loy Krathong are debated. The Thai tradition is generally traced to the Sukhothai Kingdom (13th-15th centuries), where the festival is said to have been instituted by the queen to honor the goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha. The custom of floating offerings is older, however, and may derive from Indian and Burmese traditions of honoring water spirits.
A second tradition holds that the festival originated in the ancient Mon kingdom of Hariphunchai (present-day Lamphun), where a Buddhist monk is said to have adapted a Brahmanic water-ritual into a Buddhist observance. The modern festival combines Buddhist, Brahmanic, and folk elements: the act of floating the krathong expresses Buddhist detachment, the offering honors the water goddess, and the gathering is a social celebration.
The krathong
A traditional krathong is made from a slice of banana tree trunk, about the size of a dinner plate. The base is decorated with folded banana leaves, often into lotus-petal shapes, and topped with flowers (jasmine, marigold, rose), incense, a small candle, and three sticks of incense. Personal offerings may include a strand of hair, a fingernail clipping, or a coin - small parts of oneself symbolically released with the krathong.
Modern krathongs are often made from bread or biodegradable materials so that fish can eat them after the festival. Plastic foam krathongs, popular in the 20th century, have been banned in many Thai provinces due to environmental concerns. Some festivals hold krathong-making competitions judged on craftsmanship and adherence to traditional materials.
How it is observed
On the night of Loy Krathong, Thai families and individuals gather at rivers, canals, ponds, and lakes. They light the candle and incense on their krathong, make a wish, and gently float the krathong on the water. In cities like Bangkok, the Chao Phraya River and the klongs (canals) fill with thousands of krathong; in smaller towns, the local river or pond is the focal point.
Beauty contests for krathong, called Nang Ngam, are held in many towns. Traditional Thai dance performances, music, and food stalls are common at the gathering sites. In Bangkok, a major Loy Krathong celebration is held at Lumbini Park and Asiatique along the riverfront. In Chiang Mai, the festival combines Loy Krathong with Yi Peng (see below).
Yi Peng and khom loi
Yi Peng is a Lanna (Northern Thai) festival celebrated on the same full moon as Loy Krathong, with the largest celebrations in Chiang Mai. The festival's signature feature is the release of khom loi - paper lanterns with a small candle in the base. The heated air lifts the lantern into the sky; the lantern rises until the candle burns out and it descends.
Mass lantern releases are organized in Chiang Mai, Mae Jo, and other Northern Thai locations. The most photographed event is the mass release at Mae Jo University, with thousands of lanterns released simultaneously. Yi Peng is also marked by lantern processions through Chiang Mai's old city, with parades of decorated lanterns carried by monks and laypeople.
Environment and safety
The mass release of khom loi has raised environmental and safety concerns. Lanternes that fall before the candle burns out can start fires in dry-season grass and trees; Chiang Mai has had several high-profile wildfires associated with lantern releases. Air traffic concerns also apply: lanterns released near airports can interfere with aircraft.
Authorities in Thailand have imposed seasonal restrictions on the time and place of khom loi releases. Many organized events now use biodegradable lanterns and require participants to release them only in designated areas. Plastic krathongs are banned in most Thai provinces; biodegradable krathong materials are promoted by government and environmental organizations.
In other countries
Loy Krathong is observed across Thailand and in neighboring countries. Laos observes a related festival in the same period. Myanmar observes the Tazaungdaing Festival in November, which includes floating offerings on water and the lighting of hot-air balloons (similar in concept to khom loi). Cambodia observes Bon Om Touk, the Water and Moon Festival, on the full moon in November, with boat races, floating offerings, and a full moon celebration at Phnom Penh.
Related observances
In the Thai diaspora, Loy Krathong is observed in Thai temples and community centers in the United States, Australia, and Europe. The festival is often paired with Yi Peng celebrations in communities with a significant Northern Thai diaspora. Across Asia, Loy Krathong is one of several lantern festivals in the November period, alongside Diwali and the Hindu and Sikh observances of the same season.
Loy Krathong by the numbers
Sources
- UNESCO, Yi Peng (inscribed 2024 - tentative): ich.unesco.org
- Tourism Authority of Thailand, Loy Krathong: tourismthailand.org
- Wikipedia, "Loy Krathong": en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Yi Peng": en.wikipedia.org
History of Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is a Thai festival celebrated on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar (typically November). The festival involves floating decorated krathongs (small vessels made from banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense) on rivers and ponds.
Loy Krathong is thought to have originated in the Sukhothai period (13th-15th century). It has both Buddhist and Hindu roots: the floating of krathongs symbolises the release of bad fortune, while the candle honours the Buddha. The festival coincides with the northern Thai festival of Yi Peng, when paper lanterns are released into the sky.
How it is observed
Loy Krathong is marked by krathong-floating on rivers and ponds, lantern releases, fireworks, beauty contests, and traditional Thai dance and music. Major celebrations are held in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Sukhothai, and Ayutthaya. The festival draws millions of Thai tourists and international visitors.
Loy Krathong is a public holiday in Thailand. The festival has also been criticised in recent years for the environmental impact of plastic krathongs and the harm to river ecosystems. Many celebrations now encourage biodegradable krathongs.