1. Loy Krathong Festival
Loy Krathong is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In
the western calendar this usually falls in November.
Loi" means "to float". "Krathong" is a raft about a handspan in diameter traditionally made from a
section of banana tree trunk (although modern-day versions use specially made bread 'flowers' and
may use styrofoam), decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense
sticks etc. During the night of the full moon, many people will release a small raft like this on a
river. Governmental offices, corporations and other organizations also build much bigger and more
elaborate rafts, and these are often judged in contests. In addition, fireworks and beauty contests
take place during the festival.

2. The festival probably originated in India as a Hindu festival similar to Deepavali as thanksgiving to
the deity of the Ganges with floating lanterns for giving life throughout the year. According to the
writings of H.M. King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahmanical festival was adapted by Buddhists
in Thailand as a ceremony to honour the original Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama. Apart from
venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft
is symbolic of letting go of all one's grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life
afresh on a better foot. People will also cut their fingernails and hair and add them to the raft as a
symbol of letting go of the bad parts of oneself. Many Thai believe that floating a krathong will
create good luck, and they do it to honor and thank the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha
The beauty contests that accompany the festival are known as "Noppamas Queen Contests".
According to legend, Noppamas was a consort of the Sukothai king Loethai (14th century) and she
was the first to float decorated krathongs. The Loi Krathong festival is also associated with the
start of vegetable carving.
The Thai tradition of Loy Kratong started off in Sukhothai, but is now celebrated throughout
Thailand, with the festivities in Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya being particularly well known.
In Chiang Mai Loi Kratong is also known as "Yi Peng". Every year thousands of people assemble to
float the banana-leaf krathong onto the waterways of the city, honouring the Goddess of Water. A
multitude of Lanna-style sky lanterns (khom fai) are also launched into the air where they resemble
large flocks of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating by through the skies. These are
believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.