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Loy Krathong

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Loy Krathong (Thai: ลอยกระทง, RTGS: Loi Krathong, pronounced [lɔ̄ːj krā.tʰōŋ])[a] is a Thai festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and in nearby countries with significant South Western Tai cultures (Laos, Shan, Mon, Tanintharyi, Kelantan, Kedah, and Xishuangbanna). The name could be translated as "to float ritual vessel or lamp," and comes from the tradition of making krathong or buoyant, decorated baskets, which are then floated on a river. Many Thais use the krathong to thank the Goddess of Water and River, Goddess Khongkha (Thai: พระแม่คงคา) or to worship the Holy Buddha's hair pagoda in heaven in Buddhist beliefs. This festival traces its origin back to India.[5][6]

Loy Krathong
Floating krathong in Chiang Mai
Official nameLoy Krathong[1]
Observed byThailand, Laos (as Boun That Luang), northern Malaysia, Shan in Myanmar, and Xishuangbanna in China,
Myanmar (as Tazaungdaing festival), Sri Lanka (as Il Poya), Cambodia (as Bon Om Touk, China (as Lantern Festival),
TypeAsian
SignificanceWorship and ask for forgiveness from Goddess of water Ganga, worship the Buddha's hair pagoda in the heaven[2]
DateFull moon of the 12th Thai month
2023 date27 November[3]
2024 date15 November[4]
FrequencyAnnual
Related toTazaungdaing festival (in Myanmar), Mid-Autumn Festival (in China),, Bon Om Touk (in Cambodia), Il Poya (in Sri Lanka), Boita Bandana (in Odisha, India)

Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, thus the exact date of the festival changes every year. In the Western calendar this usually falls in the month of November. In Chiang Mai, the festival lasts three days, and in 2024, the dates are 15-16 November.

In Thailand, the festival is known as Loi Krathong. Outside Thailand, this festival is celebrated under different names, including Myanmar as the "Tazaungdaing festival", Sri Lanka as "Il Full Moon Poya", China as "Lantern Festival" and Cambodia as "Bon Om Touk".[7][8][9][10][11]

Overview

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A hand-made krathong, made from banana tree trunk and banana leaves, held together with pins, and decorated with flowers
 
Krathong symbolism at Loi Krathong Festival Procession in Chiang Mai

A krathong is traditionally a small floating container fashioned of leaves which is made to hold a small portion of goods like a traditional Thai dish (such as hor mok) or dessert. The traditional krathong used for floating at the festival are made from a slice of a banana tree trunk or a spider lily plant. Modern krathongs are more often made of bread or Styrofoam. A bread krathong will disintegrate after a few days and can be eaten by fish. Banana stalk krathongs are also biodegradable, but Styrofoam krathongs are increasingly banned, as they pollute rivers and oceans. A krathong is decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, three incense sticks, and a candle.[12] A small coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits. On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal, or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The floats are thought to have been introduced to Chiang Mai in 1947 and have since been incorporated into Thai culture.[13] Government offices, corporations, and other organizations launch large decorated krathongs. There are competitions for the best of these large krathongs. Beauty contests often accompany the festivities and fireworks also have become common.

The practice of Loy Krathong in Thailand which roots Hindu in origin,[14][15]: 32  derived from Dewali,[16] the festival of lights celebrated in India as Hindus were known to celebrate the Diwali festival to worship the divine trinity and those Hindus who were converted to Buddhism had created a rite similar to the Diwali.[17] Hinduism has existed in Suvarnabhumi in a syncretistic relationship with Theravada Buddhism at least since 5th century B.C.[15]: 108 

 
A 12th century Khmer Empire bas-relief at Bayon, Cambodia depicting Kantong

In Khmer Empire. Walls of Bayon, a temple built by King Jayavarman VII in the 12th century, depicts scenes of Loy Krathong. A bas relief on the upper level depicts a queen residing on the boat to float the krathong in the river whereas six other royal concubines are depicted below, some of which are holding the krathong and dedicating at the riverbank in a similar tradition practiced in present-day Cambodia, Thailand, and other Southeast Asian countries.[18][19][20] Similarities can be observed with Kartik Purnima celebrated in the eastern state of Odisha in India. This festival is called Boita Bandana\ Dangā Bhasā, which is observed on the Kartik Purnima or full moon day of Kartik month (which corresponds to October–November) in Odia calendar. Loy Krathong festivities are usually celebrated during the period which corresponds to Kartik Purnima. Odisha being part of the ancient Kalinga which had strong maritime trade relations with Southeast Asia, the similarities in all these festivals may not be coincidental.[21]

Etymology

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According to the 1999 Royal Institute Dictionary, loi (ลอย) means 'to float', while krathong (กระทง) has various meanings, one of which is 'a small vessel made of leaves which can be floated on water during the Loy Krathong festival.' Moreover, according to the Royal Society of Thailand, the word krathong is derived from Old Chinese word 鐙 or 燈 (/*k-tˤəŋ/) which means ritual vessel or lamp.[22][23][24][25][26][27] However, other sources believe krathong to be a derivate of the Malay word kantong (Kantong), which has a similar pronunciation and the same meaning.[28][29][30][31]

History

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Chinese Water Lantern, one of the possible origins of Thai Krathong

Legend in Sukhothai Kingdom Period

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Loy Krathong is once said to have begun in the Sukhothai Kingdom by a court lady named Nopphamat. However, it is now known that the Nopphamat tale comes from a poem written in the early-Bangkok period.[32] According to King Rama IV, writing in 1863, it was an Indian Buddhist festival that was adapted by Thai Buddhists in Thailand to honour the Buddha, Prince Siddhartha Gautama. The lamps venerates the Buddha with light, while the krathong's floating away symbolises letting go of all one's hatred, anger, and defilements. People sometimes cut their fingernails or hair and place the clippings on the krathong as a symbol of letting go of past transgressions and negative thoughts. Many Thais use the krathong to thank the Goddess of Water, the Hindu Goddess Ganga, Phra Mae Khongkha (Thai: พระแม่คงคา) and Mother Earth on this day.

Ayutthaya Kingdom and Lavo Kingdom Period

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Simon de la Loubère led an embassy to Siam (modern Thailand) in 1687 (the "La Loubère-Céberet mission"). Upon his return, La Loubère wrote a description of his travels, as had been requested by Louis XIV, published under the title Du Royaume de Siam.[33] Loy Krathong festival was mentioned in his book in the sixth chapter of part two called Concerning the Shows, and other Diverſion of the Siameſes: Religious Shows: An Illumination on the Waters, and another on the Land, and in the Palace.

"The Siameſes have alſo ſome Religious Shows. When the Waters begin to retreat, the People returns them Thanks for ſeveral Nights together with a great Illumination; not only for that they are retired, but for the Fertility which they render to the Lands. The whole River is then ſeen cover'd with floating Lanthorns which paſs with it. There are of different Sizes, according to the Devotion of every particular Perſon; the variouſly painted Paper, whereof they are made, augments the agreeable effect of ſo many lights. Moreover, to thank the Earth for the Harveſt, they do on the firſt days of their Year make another magnificent Illumination. The firſt time we arriv'd at Louvo was in the Night, and at the time of this Illumination; and we ſaw the Walls of the City adorned with lighted Lanthorns at equal diſtances; but the inſide of the Palace was much more pleaſant to behold. In the Walls which do make the Incloſures of the Courts, there were contrived three rows of ſmall Niches all round, in every of which burnt a Lamp. The Windows and Doors were likewiſe all adorn'd with ſeveral Fires, and ſeveral great and ſmall Lanthorns, of different Figures, garniſhed with Paper, or Canvas, and differently painted, were hung up with an agreeable Symmetry on the Branches of Trees, or on Poſts."― Simon de la Loubère.

Rattanakosin Kingdom Period

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The beauty contests that accompany the festival are known as "Nopphamat Queen Contests" has been promoted since the reign of King Rama III.[34] Since the country became peaceful after getting involved with many wars, King Rama III ordered the palace officers and people to revive and promote the important festivals of the kingdom, such as Loy Krathong. According to legend written on the poem, Nang Nopphamat (Thai: นางนพมาศ; alternatively spelled as "Noppamas" or "Nopamas") was a consort of the 13th century Sukhothai King Sri Indraditya (who is also known as Phra Ruang) and she reputedly was the first to float a decorated raft.[35] However, this tale may have been invented in the early-19th century. There is no evidence that a Nang Nopphamat ever existed. Instead, it is a fact that a woman of this name was the leading character of a novel released at the end of the reign of King Rama III, around 1850 CE. Her character was written as guidance for all women who wished to become civil servants. Kelantan in Malaysia celebrates Loy Krathong similarly, especially in the Tumpat area. The ministry in charge of tourism in Malaysia recognizes it as an attraction for tourists.

Lanna Kingdom Period and later Northern Part of Thailand

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Thousands of khom loi in Mae Jo, Chiang Mai

Loy Krathong coincides with the Lanna (northern Thai) festival known as Yi Peng (Thai: ยี่เป็ง). Yi means 'two' and peng means a 'full moon day'. Yi Peng refers to the full moon day in the second month according to the Lanna lunar calendar (the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar).[36] The festival is meant as a time to make merit.

Swarms of sky lanterns (Thai: โคมลอย; RTGS: khom loi), literally: 'floating lanterns', are launched into the air. Khom loi are made from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, stretched over a bamboo or wire frame, to which a candle or fuel cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air is trapped inside the lantern and creates enough lift for the khom loi to float into the sky. During the festival, some people also decorate their houses, gardens, and temples with khom fai (Thai: โคมไฟ), intricately shaped paper lanterns which take on different forms. Khom thue (Thai: โคมถือ) are lanterns which are carried around hanging from a stick, khom khwaen (Thai: โคมแขวน) are the hanging lanterns, and khom pariwat (Thai: โคมปริวรรต), which are placed at temples and which revolve due to the heat of the candle inside. The most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations can be seen in Chiang Mai,[37] the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom, where now both Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are celebrated at the same time resulting in lights floating on the waters, lights hanging from trees/buildings or standing on walls, and lights floating in the sky. The tradition of Yi Peng was also adopted by certain parts of Laos during the 16th century.

The aftermath

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In 2016, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) cleaned six tonnes of rubbish from the city's waterways on the day after Loy Krathong. The city governor said that 661,935 floats were collected from waterways across Bangkok. Of these, 617,901 (93.7 percent) were made of decomposible natural materials, while 44,034 were non-biodegradable Styrofoam floats. There were 163,679 fewer krathong collected than in 2015. The city mobilized 210 workers and 45 boats to collect floats from the Chao Phraya River and canals.[38]

In 2017, because the sky lanterns are a hazard to passing aircraft and "...can cause damage to important places in the areas such as the Grand Palace [sic], temples and governmental offices,..." khom loi are increasingly subject to governmental restrictions. In Chiang Mai, authorities cancelled 78 flights in and out of Chiang Mai Airport on 3–4 November 2017. Another 79 flights were rescheduled.[39] Despite those measures, the remains of more than 100 lanterns were later found on airport premises.[13] In Bangkok, the public are prohibited from using fireworks and sky lanterns entirely. Violators may face three years imprisonment and/or a fine of 60,000 baht.[40] One hundred-ninety piers on the Chao Phraya River will be open to the public to float their krathongs. In 2018, up to 158 flights were cancelled or rescheduled at three airports, and in Bangkok 88 piers were closed.[41]

In 2017, in Nakhon Ratchasima province, 50 workers collected krathong from the moat in the town centre near the Thao Suranaree Monument. In Buriram, more than 200 workers and volunteers in Mueang District cleared at least 20,000 krathong from the town's moat. There, Styrofoam krathong will be banned in 2017. In Lampang, more than 100 students and teachers from the Institute of Physical Education helped municipal workers clean up the Wang River in Mueang District.[38]

In 2018, after the festivities, Bangkok city workers cleared 841,327 krathongs, up from 3.6 percent in 2017, from the Chao Phraya River, local canals, and 30 public parks; 5.3 percent of them were made from styrofoam.[42]

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    Loy Krathong Festival, Chiang Mai
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    Loy Krathong Festival
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    Partially made krathong, showing trunk of banana tree and banana leaves
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    Loy krathongs or floating lanterns at Koh Samui
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    Loy Krathong, Chiang Mai
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    Loy Krathong 2007, Lumpini Park, Bangkok
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    Loy Krathong 2007, Lumpini Park, Bangkok
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    Launching khom loi, Yi Peng Festival, Mae Cho, Chiang Mai
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    Launching a lantern
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    Loy Krathong 2014

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Alternative spellings include Loi Kratong, Loy Gratong, etc.

References

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  1. ^ "ประเพณี ลอยกระทง" [Loi Krathong tradition]. Ministry of Culture (in Thai). 22 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
  2. ^ ธนากิต. ประเพณี พิธีมงคล และวันสำคัญของไทย. กรุงเทพฯ : ชมรมเด็ก, ๒๕๓๙.
  3. ^ "วันลอยกระทง 2566 วันที่เท่าไร มีจังหวัดไหนจัดงานบ้าง". Thairath (in Thai). 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 14 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Loi Krathong Festival 2022". Tourism Authority of Thailand. 28 October 2022. Archived from the original on 28 October 2022.
  5. ^ Argawal Ruchi (January 2009). "Water Festivals of Thailand: The Indian Connection". Silpakorn University Journal of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts. 9–10 (1): 1, 17.
  6. ^ Melton, J. Gordon (2011). "Lantern Festival (China)". In Melton, J. Gordon (ed.). Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. ABC-CLIO. pp. 514–515. ISBN 978-1-5988-4206-7. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
  7. ^ The Penguin Handbook of the World's Living Religions. Penguin UK. 25 March 2010. ISBN 9780141955049 – via Google Books.
  8. ^ "Buddhist Calendar - Southeast Asian Calendars - Thai Calendar".
  9. ^ "Pictures of the day: 23 October 2016". The Telegraph. 23 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Il Poya". 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  11. ^ "Discover the full moon festival of Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar". 1 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017.
  12. ^ Chadchaidee, Thanapol "Lamduan" (2013). "Loy Krathong Festival". Essays on Thailand. Booksmango. pp. 5–7. ISBN 9786162222641.
  13. ^ a b "No urban place for Loy Krathong" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. 18 November 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  14. ^ Goodman J. (2004). Thailand Cultures of the World. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish. p. 116. ISBN 0-7614-1478-9 LCCN 2002-25979. "Festival floats during the popular Loy Krathong, which is Kalinga(Odisha) Hindu in origin. On this occasion people rejoice in the Mother water's gifts to them."
  15. ^ a b Desai, S.N. and Embree, A. T. (1980). "The Festival of Lights," Hinduism in Thai Life. Bombay, India: Popular Prakashan Private Ltd. ISBN 817-154-189-5.
    • p.32:- "Another of festival, which seems Hindu in its underlying idea, is Loi-Krathong, the Festival of Lights. Loi Krathong seems to be similar with Odisha's Boita purnima festival."
    • p. 108:- "Hinduism had existed in Thailand since the pre-Thai period [at least the fifth century B.C.]"
  16. ^ Sayyaparaju V. R. and Singha B. (Ed.). (2023). BHARAT The Eternal Vishwaguru. India: Vikram Raju Sayyaparaju. p. 88. ISBN 978-936-0-39038-9
  17. ^ Yavaprapas S. and Manilerd C, Bureau of International Cooperation Ministry of Culture Thailand. (2004). Loy Krathong Festival. Bangkok: Ministry of Culture Thailand. p. 33. ISBN 978-974-9-68122-0
  18. ^ เหล่ามานะเจริญ, ศิริพจน์ (17 November 2016). "ตำแหน่งท้าวศรีจุฬาลักษณ์ ของนางนพมาศ ไม่ใช่ตำแหน่งของราชสำนักสุโขทัย". มติชนสุดสัปดาห์ (in Thai). Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  19. ^ วงษ์เทศ, สุจิตต์ (6 November 2017). "สุจิตต์ วงษ์เทศ : ลอยกระทงเพื่อชาติของกบในกะลา". มติชนออนไลน์ (in Thai). Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  20. ^ "สุจิตต์ วงษ์เทศ : 'ลอยกระทง' มีครั้งแรกสมัย ร.3 สระน้ำในเมืองเก่าสุโขทัย ไม่ขุดไว้ลอยกระทง". www.matichonweekly.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Loi Krathong". Archived from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Baxter-Sagart Old Chinese reconstruction" (PDF).
  23. ^ Wei, L. (2010). Chinese festivals: traditions customs and rituals [L. Yue & L. Tao, trans]. Beijing: China International Press, p. 51. (Call no.: R 394.26951 WEI-[CUS]); Latsch, M-L. (1985).
  24. ^ "放水燈". Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  25. ^ "施餓鬼舟". Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  26. ^ "施餓鬼（せがき）舟". Archived from the original on 26 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2013.
  27. ^ Pittayaporn, Pittayawat (2014), “Layers of Chinese Loanwords in Proto-Southwestern Tai as Evidence for the Dating of the Spread of Southwestern Tai”, in MANUSYA: Journal of Humanities, volume 20 (special issue), Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University, ISSN 0859-9920, pages 47–68
  28. ^ Bilmes, L. (1998). The /ka-/ and /kra-/ prefixes in Thai. Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area, 21 (2), 73-96.
  29. ^ "คำอธิบายศัพท์". vajirayana.org. 8 March 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  30. ^ "ลอยกระทงปีนี้..กี่กระทงดีคะ". www.thairath.co.th (in Thai). 22 November 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  31. ^ “kantong” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Language Development and Fostering Agency — Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic Indonesia, 2016.
  32. ^ "คณะวิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี : Faculty of Science and Technology". Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  33. ^ de la Loubere, Simon (2003). Ames, Glenn J; Love, Ronald S (eds.). Distant Lands and Diverse Cultures: The French Experience in Asia, 1600-1700. Westport CT: Praeger. ISBN 0313308640. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  34. ^ วงษ์เทศ, สุจิตต์ (2005). ประเพณี 12 เดือน : ในประวัติศาสตร์สังคมวัฒนธรรมเพื่อความอยู่รอดของคน (in Thai). Bangkok: มติชน Matichon. ISBN 9743236244. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  35. ^ Phya Anuman Hajthon. "The Loi Krathons" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society: 64.
  36. ^ สาระน่ารู้เกี่ยวกับประเพณียี่เป็งล้านนา [Info about Lanna's Yi Peng] (in Thai). Chiang Rai Provincial Culture Office. 2004. Archived from the original on 10 April 2014. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
  37. ^ "Lantern Festival of the Yee Peng Month". Archived from the original on 28 February 2013.
  38. ^ a b "City cleans 6 tonnes of krathong waste". Bangkok Post. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  39. ^ Atthakor, Ploenpote (1 November 2017). "Loy Krathong must be kept under control". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  40. ^ "Police and City Hall say no fireworks, firecrackers or sky lanterns on Loy Krathong Day". Thai PBS. 30 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  41. ^ "Up to 158 flights cancelled amid air safety fears". Bangkok Post. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
  42. ^ "Styrofoam krathong numbers sink". Bangkok Post. 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
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