Inside Thailand's hauntingly gorgeous 'Loy Krathong' festival of lights

RTXAIUA (1)
Adrees Latif / Reuters

Every year, Thailand celebrates its "Loy Krathong" lantern festival.

Advertisement

It's a time of gorgeous floats, Buddhist prayers, and epic fireworks.

Advertisement

Loi Krathong happens on the 12th full moon of the Thai calendar, so it usually lands in November. This year, it's on November 25th.

RTXAIUJ
Adrees Latif / Reuters

It's cause for fireworks in downtown Bangkok...

Loy_Krathong_Nov2004_SeanMcClean
Wikimedia Commons
Advertisement

.... and at religious sites across southern Thailand, like Wat Mahathat, Bangkok's most elegant temple.

RTXAIUH
Adrees Latif / Reuters

'Loi Krathong' gets its name from the 'krathong' floats that are set into lakes and rivers across Thailand.

RTX15H1L
Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters
Advertisement

People read the symbolism of the night in different ways.

RTXAIUA (1)
Adrees Latif / Reuters

Thai Buddhists view the casting of the floats into the water as letting go of the regrets and hangups of the past year.

RTXUW0W
Damir Sagolj / Reuters
Advertisement

In that way it's like other religious traditions, like Tashlikh, the Jewish ritual of throwing bread into water to atone for sins.

RTX93JW
Amir Cohen / Reuters

Others see it as a way of apologizing to the water goddess.

RTR4D3BQ
Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters
Advertisement

Here a mahout – or elephant rider — uses his steed to help launch the krathong.

RTR2TTQK
Sukree Sukplang / Reuters

It's also a way of praying and setting good wishes for the next year.

RTX15H1J
Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters
Advertisement

Krathongs are traditionally made with banana leaves, so they naturally float. Then you adorn them with flowers, candles, and other beautiful things.

RTX15H1O
Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters

Mountainous northern Thailand has an analogous festival, Yi Peng, on the same night — there you send lanterns into the sky.

Yi_peng_sky_lantern_festival_San_Sai_Thailand
Wikimedia Commons
Advertisement

Together, it's one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful festival days.

LoyKrathong2014
Wikimedia Commons

And its most contemplative.

RTXUW0V
Damir Sagolj / Reuters
Advertisement
Close icon Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.