Loi Krathong 1st moon 12th month

Law means "to float". A krathong is a small raft about twenty centimeters in diameter, carved from a section of a banana tree trunk (although contemporary versions often use polystyrene even if this practice tends to be abandoned for obvious ecological reasons), elaborately decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles, and three incense sticks, etc.

Some also add a coin in the hope of good fortune, which especially pleases children who will go fishing for krathong once the festival is over. The krathong is often shaped like a lotus flower but it can also look like a swan, a stupa, or even simply Mount Meru. The festival is also an opportunity for competitions to find the most beautiful boat.

On the night of the full moon, many krathongs made in this way are released from the banks of a river, canal, lake or pond. Governments, businesses and other organisations make larger and more elaborate ones and these are often judged in competitions. Fireworks and beauty contests are also held.

According to legend The most commonly accepted is that he had in the Kingdom of Sukhothai (c. 1220-1350), at the court of King Phra-Ruang (also known as Lithai), a Brahmin priest who had an extremely beautiful daughter named Nang Nopphamat. She was very intelligent and gifted with artistic talents that enabled her to make beautiful flower garlands.

Her beauty and talents caught the attention of the king and at the age of 17 she was admitted to the rank of royal concubine. At that time, Hindus celebrated a festival during the 12th lunar month where they worshipped their three main gods (Brahmâ, Shiva and Vishnu) with lanterns mounted on long poles and by releasing lanterns into the sacred river Ganges to pay homage to the goddess Ganga, “Mother of Waters”.

Accompanying the expansion of Hinduism in South East Asia, these traditions reached the Khmer Empire, then Thailand, first the Mon kingdom of Haripunchai then those of Lanna and Sukhothai. The king Phra-Ruang wanted to create a Thai version of this Hindu festival and organized a "floating lantern" competition on the night of the 12^e full moon.

Nang Nopphamat used his skills to make a magnificent boat, using a banana tree trunk as a float and banana leaves to decorate it in the shape of lotus leaves. His creation won the competition and the king decreed that from now on, this kratong originally named khamot, would serve as a model for this new Thai ceremony of Lights or Loi Krathong.