Home > Photos (Thailand) > Various events - Loy Krathong Festival

Thailand - Loy Krathong Festival

Photo Gallery of Loy Krathong Festival.


One of the most popular and wonderful festivals in Thailand is this " Loy Krathong Festival ". It's a Thai traditional event and taken place on the night of full moon in the middle of November (12th month of Thai lunar calendar) every year.
It's held in each area through the country, and this year, 2005, they have the festival on 16, November.


"Loy" means "to float" and "Krathong" is a lotus-shaped boat decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks and so on.
On the full moon night, when the river is high over the country, people launch their Krathongs on rivers, canals or small ponds to thank to the Goddess of water (Khongkha or Ganga) and put away sins and bad luck.

Especially the Loy Krathong Festival in Sukhothai is very famous.
Same as Songkran Festival (Water Festival), Loy Krathong Festival is also the most important event for Thai people in the year.

You can listen to the "LoiKrathong song" on the LoiKrathong website below;
TAT-http://www.loikrathong.net/

(Based on their policy, LoiKrathong pictures from the website are put on this page.)

(Photo by TAT-http://www.loikrathong.net/ )

• Krathong
• Thai Dance
• Chao Phraya River
• Launch Krathongs on the river
• Loy Krathong Song

---

[Loy Krathong] Krathong

"Krathong" is a lotus-shaped boat decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles, incense sticks and so on, or in short, "lantern". You will see some pictures from a " Krathong Contest " in Bangkok. (It looks like this kind of contest is held around the period of Loy Krathong Festival. ) In recent days, Krathongs are made from/of natural things such as flowers, potato and wood. They are too wonderful Krathongs to be launched on a river...

Krathong 1 Copy of Royal barges, The Suphannahongse with a lot of white, yellow and purple blossoms.	Krathong 2 Looks like this is a copy of Royal barges, The Suphannahongse, as well. It's made of thin wood.
Krathong 1 Copy of Royal barges, The Suphannahongse with a lot of white, yellow and purple blossoms.	Krathong 2 Looks like this is a copy of Royal barges, The Suphannahongse, as well. It's made of thin wood.
Krathong 3 Made from Thai potato. Very simple and gentle to launch on the river for nature.	Krathong 4 Decorated with flowers, coloured by Thai flowers.
Krathong 3 Made from Thai potato. Very simple and gentle to launch on the river for nature.	Krathong 4 Decorated with flowers, coloured by Thai flowers.

Krathong 5 Looks this is made of wood. The board right bottom shows that the upper number is the entry number of a Krathong and the lower is the team name who made it.	Krathong 6 Made of a lot of banana leaves. This is simple but wonderful.	Krathong 7 Elaborately crafted krathong.
Krathong 5 Looks this is made of wood. The board right bottom shows that the upper number is the entry number of a Krathong and the lower is the team name who made it.	Krathong 6 Made of a lot of banana leaves. This is simple but wonderful.	Krathong 7 Elaborately crafted krathong.

Back to top

[Loy Krathong] Thai Dance

Thai dance and music with Thai musical instruments sponsored by Sky Train company, seemingly with the continuation of Thai traditional events and taking a good care of the environment as its motto. Entertainments on the Loy Krathong Festival day. Thai dance and music with Thai musical instruments sponsored by SkyTrain company, seemingly with the continuation of Thai traditional events and taking a good care of the environment as its motto. Not only this event but various contests are taken place.

Beautifully dressed Thai dance. The middle lady in blue looks a main performer.	Beautiful, aren't they ? Personally, the boy in the back looks good. :D )
Thai Dance 1 Beautifully dressed Thai dance. The middle lady in blue looks a main performer.	Thai Dance 2 Beautiful, aren't they ? Personally, the boy in the back looks good. :D )

A little close-up.	A lot of audience.	The long shaped instruments are called "Can". The shape of the guitar-like instruments on the right is curious.
Thai Dance 3 A little close-up.	This place A lot of audience.	Thai musical instruments  The long shaped instruments are called "Can". The shape of the guitar-like instruments on the right is curious.
Thai dance in the northeast. Dance with skin of coconut.	This also is a dance of northeast area.	This is a north east dance as well. Kids are dancing.
Thai Dance 4 Thai dance in the northeast. Dance with skin of coconut.	Thai Dance 5 This also is a dance of northeast area.	Thai Dance 6 This is a north east dance as well. Kids are dancing.

Back to top

チャオプラヤー川の綺麗な舟たち

You'll see a great number of lovely boats decorated with a lot of lights along Chao Phraya River. This is one scenery along Chao Phraya River on the day of Loy Krathong Festival. You'll see a great number of lovely boats decorated with a lot of lights like the pictures in this part. They are attractive and fantastic. The pictures were taken in 2005.

Various events are hold in this period.	A lot of people gather. They are waiting for the decorated boats.	A lot of people gather. They are waiting for the decorated boats.
Various events Various events are hold in this period.	Scenery along the river 1 A lot of people gather. They are waiting for the decorated boats.

The boats are coming ! How fantastic with the colour of the sun set !
Scenery along the river 2 The boats are coming ! How fantastic with the colour of the sun set !
Decorated boats are coming one after another.	Two dragons at the head of the boat.
Decorated boat 1 Decorated boats are coming one after another.	Decorated boat 2 Two dragons at the head of the boat.
Sukhotai-styled ? boat. A Buddha statue in the middle.	With fireworks. A little dangerous .. ?
Decorated boat 3 Sukhotai-styled ? boat. A Buddha statue in the middle.	Decorated boat 4 With fireworks. A little dangerous .. ?
Decorated with a lot of lights by a college.
Decorated boat 5 Decorated with a lot of lights by a college.
Heaven imaged boat with a rainbow, clouds and a waterfall by KMITL (college).
Decorated boat 6 Heaven imaged boat with a rainbow, clouds and a waterfall by KMITL (college).
Decorated with famous temple names.	Elephants on the clouds.
Decorated boat 7 Decorated with famous temple names.	Decorated boat 8 Elephants on the clouds.

Phom Pra Sumaen Ancient fort. Fascinating brightly lit. up.	Restaurant boat beautifully decorated.	Rama 8 bridge. Very beautiful.
Phom Pra Sumaen Ancient fort. Fascinating brightly lit. up.	Restaurant boat Restaurant boat beautifully decorated.	Scenery of the river Rama 8 bridge. Very beautiful.

Back to top

[Loy Krathong] Launch Krathongs on the river

It's about time to launch a krathong on the river ! Now, prepare a krathong and float it on the river. It's in a park here and a krathong has to go on a big pond, though. While sending a krathong, thank to the Goddess of water and put away sins and bad luck.

Krathongs like this are sold. Of course, some people launch ones they made by themselves.	Krathongs are send onto a river while people thanking to the water.
Krathongs Krathongs like this are sold. Of course, some people launch ones they made by themselves.	Launch a krathong Krathongs are send onto a river while people thanking to the water.
There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.	There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.
Krathongs are floating away 1 There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.
There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.	Kids are selling krathongs.
Krathongs are floating away 2 There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.	Selling krathongs Kids are selling krathongs.

There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.	Lighted toys. I guess no relationship to the festival.	A park in Bangkok. Launch krathongs not only on a river but in a park is also okay. A lot of people gather here.
Krathongs are floating away 3 There are a lot of krathongs, floating on the water.	Toys ? Lighted toys. I guess no relationship to the festival.	People A park in Bangkok. Launch krathongs not only on a river but in a park is also okay. A lot of people gather here.

Back to top

[Loy Krathong] Loy Krathong Song
You can listen to the song of Loy Krathong on the website of Loy Krathong. :) TAT (http://www.loikrathong.net/)
Thai language		English
วันเพ็ญเดือนสิบสอง น้ำนองเต็มตลิ่ง เราทั้งหลายชายหญิง สนุกกันจริง วันลอยกระทง ลอย ลอยกระทง ลอย ลอยกระทง ลอยกระทงกันแล้ว ขอเชิญน้องแก้วออกมารำวง รำวงวันลอยกระทง รำวงวันลอยกระทง บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ วันเพ็ญเดือนสิบสอง น้ำนองเต็มตลิ่ง เราทั้งหลายชายหญิง สนุกกันจริง วันลอยกระทง ลอย ลอยกระทง ลอย ลอยกระทง ลอยกระทงกันแล้ว ขอเชิญน้องแก้วออกมารำวง รำวงวันลอยกระทง รำวงวันลอยกระทง บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ บุญจะส่งให้เราสุขใจ  November full moon shines,  Loi Krathong, Loi Krathong,  and the water's high  in the river and local klong,    Loi Loi Krathong,  Loi Loi Krathong,  Loi Krathong is here and everybody's full of cheer,    We're together at the klong,  We're together at the klong,    Each one with this krathong,  As we push away we pray,  We can see a better day. Loikrathong's lyrics by TAT-http://www.loikrathong.net/

Back to top

Home > Photos (Thailand) > Various events - Loy Krathong Festival

---