Everything about Loy Krathong, the festival of lights in Thailand

The Festival of Lights or Loy Krathong is one of the most beautiful Buddhist festivals celebrated every year in Thailand.

An event not to be missed if you have the chance to be in the country.

Loy Krathong учун 2026-жылдын датасы

Launching of Krathongs.

It takes place during the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar.

As the festival attracts many tourists, it has become a multi-day celebration with different dates depending on the city.

The next Loy Krathong will take place on November 25, 2026, but festivals are organized over several days depending on the location.

Description

Krathong.

This tradition began in Sukhothai, but is now celebrated throughout the country.

» Loy (pronounced » loille ») means » float » and the Krathong is a small raft about twenty centimeters in diameter.

The Krathong is generally made up of a slice of banana tree trunk, elaborately decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles, and three incense sticks.

We also put in the Krathong nails or hair and all its problems, grudges and bad memories, to be able to forgive, free ourselves and then be lighter to move forward!

Some also add a coin to the raft, hoping in return for good fortune.

The Krathong often has the shape of a lotus in bloom, but it can also have the appearance of a swan or a stupa.

The Festival of Lights is also an opportunity for the most beautiful boat contest.

During the full moon night, many Krathongs made in this way are released from the banks of a river, canal, lake, or pond.

Administrations, businesses and other organizations make larger and more elaborate ones and these are often evaluated in competitions.

To this are added the releases of Thai lanterns, fireworks and beauty contests.

Origin and symbols of Loy Krathong

Loy Krathong in Bangkok.

The Festival of Lights has its origins in India, deriving from the Hindu festival of Diwali, during which the Ganges goddess is thanked with floating lanterns for having brought life throughout the year.

According to the writings of King Rama IV in 1863, the originally Brahmin festival was adapted by Thai Buddhists as a ceremony in honor of Buddha

In addition to showing the Thai people's veneration for Buddha through light (the candle on the raft), the release of Krathong also symbolizes the abandonment of grudges, anger, and impurities in order to start anew.

In the same way, participants cut their nails and hair, which symbolize the negative aspects of themselves, and place them on the rafts.

Many Thai people believe that floating a Krathong will bring them good luck and they do it to honor and thank Phra Mae Khongkha, the Thai equivalent of the Hindu goddess of water

Thai origin of the festival of lights

Releasing lanterns.

According to the most commonly accepted legend, there was in the Kingdom of Sukhothai (c. 1220-1350), at the court of King Pra-Ruang (also known as Lithai), a Brahmin priest who had an extremely beautiful daughter named Naang Noppamart.

She was very intelligent and gifted with artistic talents that enabled her to create beautiful garlands of flowers.

Her beauty and talents attracted the king's attention and at the age of 17, she was admitted to the rank of royal concubine.

At that time, Hindus celebrated a festival during the 12th lunar month where they worshiped their three main gods (Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu) with lanterns mounted on long poles and by releasing lanterns into the sacred Ganges River to pay homage to the goddess Ganga, "Mother of the Waters ".

Accompanying the expansion of Hinduism in Southeast Asia, these traditions reached the Khmer Empire, then Thailand, first the Mon kingdom of Haripunchai and then those of Lanna and Sukhothai.

The king Pra-Ruang wanted to create a Thai version of this Hindu festival and organized a "Floating Lanterns" contest on the night of the 12th full moon.

Naang Noppamart used her talents to create a magnificent boat, using a banana tree trunk as a float and banana leaves to decorate it in the shape of lotus leaves.

His creation won the contest and the king decreed that henceforth, this Krathong originally called Khamot, would serve as a model for this new Festival of Lights or Loy Krathong.

Naang Noppamart became the king's favorite and led a happy life.

On her record, there is the Tumrub Thao Srichulaluck, an autobiographical account of the history and conduct of the 12th lunar month ceremony, or Loy Krathong.

Legend or reality?

Beauty pageant during Loy Krathong.

Who knows, however, the story of Naang Noppamart adds a touch of charm to the Loy Krathong festivities and to this day the one who wins the beauty contest of the festival of lights receives the title of "Queen Naang Noppamart".

The Yi Peng festival

Celebration of the Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai. Photo: TAT News.

Yi Peng (sometimes written Yee Peng), known as the Sky Lantern Festival, is a Lanna festival unique to northern Thailand.

Lanna (in Thai: ล้านนา or อาณาจักรล้านนา, kingdom of a million rice fields) is an ancient Asian kingdom centered on Chiang Mai.

It was made up of more or less autonomous city-states (apart from Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Nan and Phrae).

It features countless lanterns that twinkle in the sky.

The date of the Yi Peng festival follows the Lanna lunar calendar, coinciding with the full moon of the second month.

In the Gregorian calendar, it usually falls in November, often close to or at the same time as Loy Krathong.

This year, the Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai is scheduled for November 24-25, 2026.

Environmental issue

A municipal employee collects Krathongs in the Chao Phraya River after the Loy Krathong festival. Photo: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

Many Thais now reject the use of polystyrene and other non-biodegradable materials in the manufacture of Krathongs, which risk polluting marine ecosystems.

The festival-goers have called for a return to natural materials, such as banana leaves, banana trunks and coconut husks.

However, some people use many metal needles to hold together these natural and biodegradable elements, which is not very safe!

The festival's popularity has led to the clogging of rivers and canals by the number of Krathongs.

Some Thais have chosen to float a single Krathong for the whole family, to observe the tradition at home or to use a Loy Krathong application to pay homage online, thus eliminating all waste.

Others have used bread Krathongs, thinking it was more environmentally friendly and would feed the fish.

Unfortunately, this has killed many fish.

See: Ecological Krathongs cause a fish massacre in Thailand

Where to celebrate Loy Krathong 2026

Krathong and fireworks.

Loy Krathong is celebrated throughout Thailand, so you can visit any body of water in the country to enjoy the festival.

Thais eager to float their Krathong and pay homage to the water goddess will gather around almost all rivers, canals, ponds, lakes and other bodies of water.

If you want to have an extra magical experience, the following cities are the most lively during the Loy Krathong festivals:

1. Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the best place to go for a truly enchanting Loy Krathong festival experience.

In addition to Loy Krathong, the city also organizes the Yi Peng Festival on the same day.

The Yi Peng festival, also known as the Thailand Sky Lantern Festival, is unique to northern Thailand.

You won't be able to experience the fusion of Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals elsewhere in the country.

In addition to releasing Krathongs lit by candles on the water, people light and fly lanterns in the night sky.

You can thus attend an enchanting scene that seems to come out of a fairy tale.

An elaborate annual parade usually takes place during Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai.

One of the best places to celebrate Loy Krathong and Yi Peng in Chiang Mai is on the banks of the Ping River.

If you want to have the best view, you can attend the celebrations from the iron bridge and the Nawarat Bridge.

Tha Pae gate is also an ideal place to observe the festivals since the opening ceremony, the start of the parade and the beauty pageant all take place there.

You can also visit the Three Kings Monument if you wish to attend the traditional Lanna dance performance and the opening ceremony of the illuminated candle platform.

If you wish to observe the festival from a temple, you can visit Wat Phan Thao.

2. Sukhothai

Birthplace of Loy Krathong, Sukhothai is an incredible place to experience the festival.

It's in this ancient city that you'll experience the most authentic Loy Krathong, making it the ideal place to visit if you want to learn more about the legends and history of this joyful festival.

Most of the festival events take place in the Sukhothai Historical Park.

You can admire the magnificent Krathong floating while being surrounded by magnificent ancient monuments.

The people of Sukhothai celebrate Loy Krathong for 5 days.

In addition to the massive release of Krathong, the festival typically offers parades, sound and light shows, folk music performances, and a beauty contest.

3. Bangkok

Bangkok

The city is generally filled with festival-related places and activities.

Even the city's hotels organize a Loy Krathong event in their pool.

In Bangkok, festivities generally take place along the Chao Phraya River.

The best places to visit to enjoy Loy Krathong by the river are Asiatique, Phra Athit Pier, Wat Saket and Maharaj Lifestyle Mall.

Asiatique, the night market by the river, is particularly popular.

It's an ideal place if you want to experience the festival like a local.

You will find some of the most incredible shows and one of the largest crowds in Bangkok.

The main event usually includes the story of Loy Krathong through dance and music, as well as an illuminated procession of Krathong releases.

In addition to the Asiatique and the sites along the Chao Phraya River, many ponds and waterways in the city also become a convergence point for people gathering and launching their Krathong.

Some of the most popular parks to experience Loy Krathong are Benjasiri Park, Benjakitti Park, and Lumpini Park.

Wat Pho Wat Arun

4. Phuket

Loy Krathong in Phuket is much more relaxed than Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Sukhothai.

It's the ideal place if you want to experience the festival without the crowds.

You can usually join the celebrations on all the navigable waterways and beaches of the island.

Some of the most popular beaches for the festivals are Nai Harn Beach and Patong Beach.

For a more local experience, Kata and Karon beaches, Suan Luang Park and Saphan Hin Park are excellent places to visit.

Video of a lantern release during Loy Krathong

You can follow festivals and celebrations in Thailand month by month on our Agenda: Festivals and celebrations in Thailand.

Or get a glimpse of the important days of this year:

Holidays and public holidays 2026 in Thailand.

Source: wikipedia.org, tatnews.org, The Thaiger