LOI KRATHONG FESTIVAL
By Lauren Reich
Thailand:
LOI KRATHONG FESTIVAL
FIRST EDITION
ILLUSTRATED BY LAUREN REICH
Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok
Wat Arun Temple in Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand: Loi Krathong Festival
About Thailand Festival
Thailand is a beautiful and cheerful country located in Southeast Asia. The people of Thailand pride themselves on their culture. Throughout the year, many different cultural festivals are hosted all over the country. One of the cultural festivals hosted in Thailand is the Loi Krathong which is typically hosted in November. Thailand: Loi Krathong Festival is about this festival; and what someone as an outsider would expect going to this event in Thailand. This festival is hosted all over Thailand, however there is more to do at the festival in Bangkok. There are three parts people must know about the festival when attending in Bangkok: the events, clothing, and food. The two events that the festival takes part in at Bangkok is the Krathong event and Lantern show. The clothing that Thailand people wear in Bangkok for the Loi Krathong festival is styles of chut Thai clothing, these styles are based on Thailand culture. The food at Loi Krathong festival is a part of traditional Thai food consisting of Krathong Thong, Nua Pad Prik Thai Dum, and Gaeng Khua Gai. With so many things to do in Bangkok for the Loi Krathong festival it really is an amazing festival full of beauty, kindness, and fun. Read on to learn more about the festival and the beauty of the Loi Krathong festival in Bangkok.
Loi Krathong Festival ORIGIN
Loi (Loy) Krathong Festival started 800 years ago in the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom of Thailand. Present day Loi Krathong Festival celebrates many of the same principles that started the festival 800 years ago. The two principles to the Loi Krathong Festival are floating Krathongs to honor Buddha and asking forgiveness from Goddess of water Ganga. The festival is hosted at night of the 12th lunar month, this typically falls in the month of November.1
“Seeing the lanterns in the sky is a once in a life time experience”.
KRATHONG EVENT
At the Loi Krathong Festival, the main event is the act of floating peoples Krathong’s down the river at night. The Krathong is a small boat that is created with banana tree trunk and decorated with coconut shells, flowers, baked bread, potato slices, and lotus leaves. Many believe in the symbolism of good luck that comes from the Loi Krathong event. If someone’s light stays lit until the krathong disappears then the person will experience good luck for the upcoming new year. When attending the festival in Bangkok, there are different spots that people can float their Krathongs. The top three river places to go to is Asiatique, Wat Saket, or Phra Athit Pier riverside.1
LANTERN SHOW
A newer edition of the festival is the lantern show. Many people gather around to release lanterns into the sky. Seeing the lanterns in the sky during the Krathong event is a once in a lifetime experience. People get to experience the lantern show in Bangkok during the evening of the Loi Krathong Festival.
Chut Thai Clothing
ORIGIN
Chut Thai phra ratcha niyom, also known as chut Thai, is the modern national outfit for Thai people. Even though many parts of the chut Thai have been worn for centuries by the Thai people, the term chut Thai was created in the 20th century. Chut Thai can be seen at many types of events all over Thailand. Different styles of chut Thai are called for depending on if the event is formal, informal, or royal.2
FESTIVAL CLOTHING
At the Loi Krathong festival, it is considered a cultural and formal event. This means the style of chut Thai that Thai people will wear will be for a formal setting. Thai women would wear typically a Boromphiman or Amarin style of chut Thai. The Boromphia style is a detailed blouse and skirt sewn together. The Amarin style is a long-sleeved blouse with a round neck and buttons. Both styles are acceptable for Thai women to wear at the Loi Krathong Festival. Thai men
have one known formal event chut Thai which is the suea phraratchathan. This chut Thai is made up of a shirt that is fastened up with a long collar and worn with a sash. However since Loi Krathong is cultural it is also appropriate of the Thai men to wear a raj pattern shirt-cum-jacket. For non-Thai people who go to the Loi Krathong festival, it is appropriate to wear modest clothing.2
A Pattern Style of Chut Thai
Boromphiman Style
Amarin Style
suea phraratchathan Style
raj pattern shirt-cum-jacket
Fesitval Thai Food ABOUT THAI FOOD
At the Loi Krathong festival in Bangkok, there are food dishes that vendors present people with while waiting for the events. There may be many different Thai dishes present at the event but, here are three popular dishes at the festival. The three most popular dishes are the Krathong Thong dish, Gaeng Khua Waan Gai dish, and Nua Pad Prik Thai Dum dish.3
Krathong Thong Dish
Krathong Thong dish is a popular dish in Thailand and can be found at the Loi Krathong Festival. This dish is easy to carry and is perfect for those who love savory food. Krathong Thong is made with a homemade patty shell, the shell is made with coconut milk, lime water, rice flour, and sugar. Inside of the patty shell is minced chicken, peas, corn, and basil.
Nua Pad Prik Thai Dum Dish
Nua Pad Prik Thai Dum dish is a spicy chile beef entrée. At the Loi Krathong festival, it is available as a great spicy option for those who like a good chile kick. The Nua Pad Prik Thai Dum is made up of beef with a wide range of spices sautéed into it. These spices include Thai chili, oyster sauce, red pepper, fish sauce, and garlic.
Gaeng Khua Waan Gai Dish
Gaeng Khua Waan Gai dish is a well-known green curry. This popular green curry dish is all over the places at the Loi Krathong Festival. This dish has been described as the perfect balance, not too sweet or too spicy. The beautiful balance of the curry makes for a delicious dish. There are chicken and spices inside of the Gaeng Khua Waan Gai dish.
Thailand Festivals Inc.
An imprint of Festival Discovery, LTC
Copyright 2022 by Lauren Reich
All rights reserved
Printed in the USA by Thailand Festivals Inc.
For more information contact Thailand Festivals Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Date available
ISBN-568-3-670-5687-0
Illustrated and by Lauren Reich
First published in the United States of America by Festival Discovery, LTC
First Edition published 2022 86936739568
ThailandFestivals.com
Bibliography:
1 Loy Krathong – How to Celebrate in Bangkok and Across Thailand by Simon Philipp
2 Thailand’s Beautiful Traditional Dress by Sarah Williams
3 Loy Krathong ‘Festival of Lights’ by The Culinary Chase
LOI KRATHONG FESITVAL
Thailand: Loi Krathong Festival is about the Loi Krathong Festival and the beautiful parts that makes this festival an event people must attend. This festival is hosted all over the country, however there is more to do in the Bangkok location. In Bangkok, the festival has cultural events, clothing, and food present in the Loi Krathong festival. This book goes into depth talking about the festival in Bangkok and what one would expect attending the fun cheerful Loi Krathong festival.
U.S. $14.99 CAN $16.99
