Bangkok, 17 November, 2021 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is highlighting multiple Loi Krathong Festival 2021 celebrations in unique locations up and down the country to celebrate one of Thailand’s oldest and most colourful traditions.
The traditional festival of Loi Krathong – also known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ and the floating lantern festival – is one of the most charming and visually stunning of all Thailand’s annual festivals, and is celebrated during the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar.
This year the Loi Krathong Festival will be held on Friday, 19 November.
All around Thailand, people gather in the evening at lakes, rivers, canals, and beaches to participate in Loi Krathong and pay respect to the goddess of water. In Thai, the word Loi means ‘float’ and Krathong means ‘container, boat or vessel’, and the Festival entails the floating of a krathong decorated with candles and flowers onto the water. The Thais believe this is a way to rid oneself of bad luck and negative feelings, and to bring good luck and positive feelings.
Celebrated in Northern Thailand in conjunction with Loi Krathong is the Yi Peng Festival, which sees illuminated lanterns released into the night-time sky. During Loi Krathong, the magical sight of hundreds of candle-lit krathongs floating on the water is an enchanting sight to behold, as is the equally beautiful scene during Yi Peng of the lanterns rising upward. However, sky lanterns are normally banned during certain hours at night for passenger flight safety reasons.
While Loi Krathong is celebrated nationwide, some of the best places for tourists to experience the Festival are Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Sukhothai. Once the first capital of Siam and today a World Heritage Site, Sukhothai offers the chance to enjoy Loi Krathong with the backdrop of majestic ancient ruins and is said to be where the Festival began some 600 years ago.
Here are some of the unique locations to celebrate the Loi Krathong Festival 2021.
Central Region
The 7th River Festival 2021, Bangkok
17-19 November, at 7 locations – Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho), Wat Arun, Wat Prayun Wongsawat, Wat Rakhang Kositaram, Maharaj Pier, and Asiatique The Riverfront.
ICONSIAM A Magical Loi Krathong upon the Chao Phraya River
19 November, at ICONSIAM, Bangkok
Khlong Ong Ang Loi Krathong Festival 2021, Bangkok
19-21 November, at Khlong Ong Ang
Thailand International Lantern and Food Festival, Samut Prakan
12 November to 6 December, at Muang Boran The Ancient City
Loi Krathong Kap Kluai Mae Klong Festival 2021, Samut Songkhram
19 November, at Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong
The Twelve-Zodiac Signs Loi Krathong Festival 2021, Suphan Buri
17-21 November, at Wat Khao Phra Si Sanphetchayaram (Wat Khao Phra)
Ban Rachan Loi Krathong Festival 2021, Sing Buri
19 November, at the Ban Rachan Retro Market, Wat Pho Kao Ton
Northern Region
Chiang Mai Yi Peng Festival 2021
19-20 November, around the city moat and gates
Loi Krathong Sai Festival and a Thousand Floating Lanterns 2021, Tak
18-19 November, at Lan Krathong Sai by the Ping Riverside, at the foot of the Somphot Krung Rattanakosin Song Roi Pi Bridge
Sukhothai Loi Krathong and Candle Festival 2021
18-20 November, at the Sukhothai Historical Park
Long Sapao Chao Lakon Festival 2021, Lampang
18-19 November, at Sing Chai Pier by the Wang Riverside
Two-River Loi Krathong Festival 2021, Phitsanulok
17-19 November, at Thamma Bucha Road in front of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat
Phrae Loi Krathong Festival 2021
19 November, at Phrae Municipal Office and the Chetawan Pier by the Yom Riverside
Kwan Phayao Loi Krathong Festival 2021, Phayao
17-20 November, at Kwan Phayao (Phayao Lake)
Northeastern Region
Prasat Muang Tam Loi Krathong Festival 2021, Buri Ram
18-19 November, at Prasat Muang Tam
Khon Kaen Loi Krathong Festival 2021
19 November, at Khon Kaen University
Eastern Region
Pattaya Loi Krathong Festival 2021, Chon Buri
19 November, at Central Pattaya Beach Road
Kindly note that this year, Loi Krathong celebrations may be somewhat affected by pandemic control and prevention measures; for example, in audience size limits and other social distancing requirements.
TAT would like to remind all travellers, when attending events, to continue with the D-M-H-T-T-A precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19: D – Distancing, M – Mask wearing, H – Handwashing, T – Temperature check, T – Testing for COVID-19, and A – alert application.
