One of the most beautiful and grandly celebrated festivals in Thailand is of course, Loy Krathong Festival, the festival of light that is usually performed on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, generally falls in November. Loy Krathong is yearly celebrated nationwide and this is another event that tourists would love to experience once in a life time.

As soon as the sun set in the evening of November 24th this year, the atmosphere of the whole country changed. It is not an ordinary day, but the day people, both locals and visitors from outside have been waiting for; the day of joyful events, fun and the real grand celebration, Loy Krathong Festival.

Loy Krathong in Hua Hin

Like in all other places in the Kingdom of Thailand, Hua Hin also celebrates this evocative festival colorfully. The biggest celebration must be that which was held by the Municipality. There were more than ten beautiful wagons that together make the grand procession to The Queen Park (19 Rai), and there the big party awaits all. Apart from that, the festival is also celebrated at various other places; at Khao Tao, Khao Takiab, Suan Son Beach and also at many hotels and resorts.

Everybody knows how wonderful the atmosphere of Hua Hin beaches is. Therefore, to have a chance to celebrate Loy Krathong Festival in this peaceful beach destination, you will truly feel privileged. The act of floating Krathong is quite important since it marks the cultural event, and therefore,the key avtivity of this festival. It’s quite rare that you will have an opportunity to celebrate Loy Krathong by the sea and this should really excite you.

Know what a Krathong is…?

Needless to say, Krathong is the most significant element of this festival. To simply put it, Krathong is a banana–leaf cup, the floating object with decoration of banana leaves, flowers, a candle and incense sticks. This can be made in different shapes sizes and styles, but the most common style must be that which looks like a lotus. Many people would make krathong themselves while many others also choose to buy the ready made ones. They then bring it to the river, pond, sea or other sources of water to do the floating. The floating of a Krathong is intended to float away ill fortune as well as to express apologies to Khongkha or Ganga, the River Goddess. Also this refers to flying away misfortune and bad things in the past and asking for good luck in the future.

The Colorful Water in a Romantic Night

This is the night when the sources of water - the rivers, canals, or even the sea will turn lively with the dim light of candles and incense. You’ll get to see the colorful water tonight. Well-decorated krathongs will be floating every where, giving beautiful colors to the water and the lively look that will indicates that, a real celebration is actually going on.
Another interesting aspect of Loy Krathong is that many look at this festival as “a romantic night”. People look forward to going out and launching Krathongs together to predict the romance future by the direction the Krathongs float. However, this season is also good for strengthening relationship in family.

The fun-filled events

Certainly, this is not just a festival to float krathong but there are many fun-filled events happening this night also. Many activities other than floating Krathong are conducted in this festival, such as, contests of Krathong-making and Noppamas beauty pageants, local games and performances and fireworks.

The common thing you will see is those food stalls that are put up in rows, making it both excited and indecisive to choose what to eat. Local Thai food, different kinds of snacks, sweets, fruits and beverages… and what not…plenty of delicious food, all fun activities, pluses the cultural aspect, you will find this celebration one of the best among all the events held in this country.

This is also the time that you’ll get to see Thai girls dressing in traditional Thai clothing in different styles. It is definitely another charming aspect of Loy Krathong.

A little bit about its history

The Loy Krathong festival dates back to the time of the Sukhothai Kingdom, about 700 years ago. It marked the end of the rainy season and the main rice harvest. It is based on a Hindu tradition of thanking the water god for the waters. The farmers of Sukhothai used to hold a festival of floating candles. One year, a beautiful woman called Noppamas, who was the chief royal consort, made some special lanterns for the festival. She made them from banana leaves and shaped them like lotus flowers. The king was impressed with what he saw, so he announced that krathongs would be floated on the water every year from then on. Today, the memory of that woman who made the first krathong is remembered in a beauty contest called "The Noppamas Queen Contest".
Others overlook its origin yet focus on the purposes of the ritual: to pay respect to the Goddess of the Water showing their gratitude on their plentiful use of water and ask for forgiveness in the ensuing pollution