BANGKOK, THAILAND — On the night of November’s full moon, millions across Thailand gathered along rivers and lakes to release glowing Krathongs, marking the ancient festival of Loy Krathong. Thousands lined the banks of the Chao Phraya River, each person kneeling to send their handcrafted floats of banana leaves, candles, and incense into the current. Local teacher Nualphan Charoenkit, 43, said the act was her way to “thank the river and let go of anger.” Volunteers from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration later registered more than 80,000 Krathongs collected for recycling on November 28.
Faith carried by water
In the former capital Sukhothai, thousands returned to the Historical Park on November 27 to mark what historians trace back to the 13th century. The legend recalls a court lady, Noppamas, who created the first Krathong for her king. Historian Dr. Chaiwat Phairoj from Chiang Mai University said that “this story connects devotion to the goddess Mae Khongkha with Buddhist reflection — two cultures fused in one act.” Visitors watched as traditional dancers performed beside the temple ruins, where candlelight shimmered over the ancient ponds.
The craft of devotion
Markets along Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok and temple courtyards in Chiang Mai turned into workshops where families folded hundreds of Krathongs. Street vendor Somsri Lertdet, 52, said she sold about 200 handmade floats in one day, explaining that “the lotus-shape folding takes patience, but it calms the heart.” Artisans used banana trunks, orchid petals, and marigolds, with some editions featuring coins or strands of hair to symbolize release from negativity.
A greener celebration
Environmental groups such as EcoThai Foundation reported on November 28 that 95% of Bangkok’s Krathongs this year were made from natural materials instead of Styrofoam. Activist Preecha Wongwan, who led cleanup crews along the Bangkok Noi Canal, said in an interview, “PLASTIC KRATHONGS POLLUTE OUR RIVERS — PEOPLE ARE FINALLY LISTENING.” Students from Thammasat University joined the overnight operation, collecting five tons of organic waste for composting. Officials warned that improper disposal still risks contaminating waterways if recovery shifts falter.
Twin light over Chiang Mai
In Chiang Mai Province, Loy Krathong coincided with Yi Peng, the northern lantern festival. Organizers at Tha Phae Gate counted thousands of paper lanterns released between 7:00 p.m. and midnight. Mayor Assanee Buranupakorn said police restricted lantern size to 35 centimeters for flight safety near Chiang Mai International Airport. Residents combined water floats with sky lanterns, creating a panorama of lights both above and below the Ping River.
Beyond borders
Across the region, comparable rituals unfolded. In Vientiane, Laos, hundreds gathered near That Luang Stupa for the Boun Lai Heua Fai ceremony, launching candlelit boats on the Mekong River. In Mandalay, Myanmar, the Tazaungdaing Festival illuminated pagodas as monks received new robes on the same full moon night. Meanwhile in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, more than 300 racing boats competed in the Bon Om Touk Water Festival, each crew paddling under torchlight as spectators cheered.
Tourism and transformation
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, hotel occupancy in Chiang Mai exceeded 95% for the 2024 festival weekend. Hotel owner Wichai Boonrung reported full bookings at his 30-room guesthouse on Moon Muang Road, saying “foreign interest keeps the tradition alive even as locals adapt to crowds.” In Bangkok’s Asiatique district, drone flights filmed illuminated barges for live broadcasts reaching over one million online viewers. Yet cultural researcher Dr. Siriporn Kittikorn cautioned that “THE FESTIVAL RISKS BECOMING STAGED IF REFLECTION GIVES WAY TO PHOTOS.”
Holding onto meaning
Many participants still emphasized introspection. On November 27, monk Phra Anurak from Wat Arun guided a riverside prayer where 400 devotees offered incense and sang verses of gratitude. “WATER TAKES WHAT WE RELEASE — IT ALSO GIVES BACK CALM,” he told them. By midnight, thousands of candles flickered upstream, drifting beyond view. The statistic of collected Krathongs — over 800,000 nationally — confirmed a record turnout, but for those kneeling at the river’s edge, the measure was in silence.