Loi Krathong 2019 vs. Loi Krathong 2021

The Thai festival of lights, Loi Krathong, is celebrated throughout Thailand.

Loi Krathong is celebrated every year throughout Thailand on the day of the full moon in the twelfth month of the traditional Thai lunisolar calendar. Since the Thais have a different calendar and also write a different year than we Germans or even some other countries, the traditional festival of lights for us usually falls in November.

The word “Loi” translated means something like “swim” while “Krathong” is to be understood as a small raft. So together we can say that Loi Krathong is the festival of floating rafts. And indeed, the small rafts make the Loi Krathong festival very special. Colorfully decorated and equipped with candles as well as incense sticks, these little floating rafts are launched into the water in the evening, illuminating almost every body of water in Thailand.

Although Loi Krathong is probably a Hindu festival and was originally intended as a thanksgiving to the god of the Ganges, it is now firmly anchored in Thai tradition. The floating rafts or floating lanterns are said to be life-giving throughout the coming year. In addition, the Loi Krathongs are attributed the meaning to erase all resentment, anger and also the impurities of the soul and thus open the possibility to start and also lead the new year of life better and more positively.

For couples, the Loi Krathong festival and especially the launching of a floating, luminous raft symbolizes the strong togetherness. Therefore, the Thai festival of lights is especially popular with couples. But whether you celebrate as a couple, single or family, the streets are usually full of celebrating people and there is plenty of eating and drinking.

Loi Krathong 2019

I experienced my first Loi Krathong festival in 2019. At that time, it was more of a coincidence that we were in Bangkok to coincide with the Thai festival of lights. Of course, we then did not miss it to experience this tradition once up close. Loi Krathong is celebrated more extensively in Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya than in other regions of Thailand. But still: also in Bangkok or other places these festivities take place.

In Bangkok, especially Lumpini Park is a very popular place to celebrate Loi Krathong and let the glowing rafts into the water in the evening. Of course, there are many other places to celebrate the festival of lights, but if you don’t know where to go, Lumpini Park is the perfect place.

Already on the way to the park you will find numerous small stands on the roadside, where you can choose the most beautiful Loi Krathong float. Sometimes it is just a blanket on the ground, where the colorful little ships are freshly made and tinkered together. The choice is enormous! Also very special is that the Loi Krathongs are all made of biodegradable materials like palm leaves, flowers or even fish food. This way, the festival of lights does not harm the environment in any way and the fish are happy about all the food they get that evening.

We then also bought a Loi Krathong boat and walked a little awkwardly through Lumpini Park. But there were chains of lights and also luminous decorations distributed everywhere, so you automatically knew you were in the right place. In the many lakes or even small streams, the luminous rafts were already floating everywhere and people were cavorting on the shore to launch their own Loi Krathong. The Thais usually pray shortly after they put the raft in the water. We joined and let our Loi Krathong also devoutly slide into the water.

Afterwards we walked a bit through Lumpini Park and took in the colorful lights on the waters. There was music, some small stalls with food and drinks and also a few shows. The whole park was full of people and just so wrapped in a magical sea of lights. An incredibly great experience and also something that can’t be described in mere words.

Loi Krathong 2021

Two years later, the world has changed. I am not even sure if in 2020 the Loi Krathong festival was allowed to take place because of Corona. This year we were in Bangkok again by chance and saw posters in some malls announcing a virtual Loi Krathong festival. How exactly one should imagine this, I can unfortunately not answer. But for us it was clear, if we want no virtual festival of lights but a real one.

Since we were then but not sure where to celebrate this year (after and still with the pandemic) best Loi Krathong, we have decided again for the Lumpini Park. We were so impressed there two years ago that we thought there would definitely be something going on there this year. And even if not, it is still very beautiful in Lumpini Park and it will not be completely deserted.

Once there, we had to realize that the park was fenced off and you can only get into Lumpini Park through controlled paths and entrances. On the way to one of the entrances — and probably also on all other entrances — one could choose from a variety of Loi Krathongs. Whether a large raft made of fish food, a small boat decorated with flowers or even quite fancy variants. There is a huge selection. We quickly bought a lighter and entered the park.

At the entrance our temperature was checked and we had to sign in a list. In the park itself there was not much going on and also the many decorations, the fairy lights and the small stands from our memory were unfortunately no longer there. Nevertheless, the park was gradually filling up with people dropping their Loi Krathongs into the water. We waited a little longer, because we thought with time the lakes and rivers would fill with rafts, but it was quickly noticed that this year there are significantly fewer people celebrating here than 2 years ago.

After we have let our Loi Krathong raft in the water we are also still a little walked through the Lumpini Park but the exuberant celebration that we knew, there was no longer here. In retrospect, I learned that there were probably also fireworks but this festival of lights was rather sober. The abundant, convivial food and drink is simply not possible due to the pandemic and so unfortunately also the traditional Loi Krathong festival suffers. But one thing you have to leave the Thais: there is still a Loi Krathong festival and it is held despite everything to the traditions!