The night
of the full moon of the twelfth lunar month (usually in mid-November)
is the time of Loi Krathong. Loi means to float and Krathong
is a leaf cup normally made of banana leaf. Usually the Krathong
has a small coin in it, besides a candle and incense sticks.
Loi
Krathong in Sukhothai
It is unclear
to what extent the festival has a religious relevance. It's not
Buddhist but Buddhism doesn't prohibit the belief in a wide array
of spirits and can even coexist with other religions.
The fact that the Loi Krathong is not Buddhist doesn't mean that
it wouldn't have a quasi religious meaning for a large number
of people. A common belief is that floating the cups brings good
luck.
During October
and November all rivers and canals in the lowlands are flooded
and in some places overflow their banks. The rainy season
has ended and after the strenuous labor of ploughing and planting
rice for the previous three months from dawn to dusk the heavy
work is now over for the country folk. The peasants have only
to wait a month to six weeks for the harvest. During this idle
interval they spend the time with many feasts and festivals, among
them the observance of the Loi Krathong tradition.
In the evening,
when the full moon begins to rise, people carry their Krathongs
to the banks of waterways. After the candle and incense sticks
are lighted, the Krathong is pushed gently out onto the surface
of the placid water. A few folk will raise their hands in worship.
They watch the Krathong as it floats sluggishly along until it
is out of sight.
The floating
Krathong usually has a short life. As it floats far away
from its starting place, children will, in most cases,
swim out to snatch for it. They will perhaps ignore the
empty ones, but are certainly eager to catch those with small
coins inside.
