Every year in the luminous glow of a full November moon, Thailand celebrates a most beautiful ritual: the festival of Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง — lōy grà-thōng) — often called the ‘Festival of Water and Lights’. In Thai, the word ลอย (lōy) is a verb meaning ‘to float’ and กระทง (grà-thōng) is the basket or raft made out of banana leaves — together Loy Krathong (ลอยกระทง — lōy grà-thōng) means ‘to float a basket or a raft’.
Under the gentle night sky, people gather by rivers, canals, and lakes, light a candle and incense, and gently launch a little raft into the water — a gesture of gratitude to the Goddess of Water (พระแม่คงคา — phrá-mâe khōng-khāa), letting go of the old and welcoming the new.
The heart of the festival lies in the กระทง (lōy grà-thōng), handmade or purchased, carefully decorated with banana leaves, fresh flowers, a candle and incense sticks. Thais will pause, make a wish — for forgiveness, for well-being, for love — then push the basket into the water and watch its steady drift. In many minds, the past year’s burdens are carried away with the current.
At the same time, in the north of Thailand (especially in Chiang Mai) the sky itself becomes the theatre of light: paper lanterns float upwards, thousands of them, each one a silent prayer rising into the heavens.
Beyond its shimmering beauty, Loy Krathong is a festival rich with meaning — a moment of reflection, renewal, and connection. It reminds us of the delicate balance between humans and nature, and the gratitude we owe to the elements that sustain us.
In modern Thailand, Loy Krathong is celebrated everywhere — from bustling Bangkok to small countryside villages. Schools, temples, and community organise events where people come together to make their own กระทง (grà-thōng), often from eco-friendly materials like bread, coconut shells, or natural leaves. The idea is to respect the water and minimise pollution — a gesture that beautifully echoes the spirit of the celebration.
For Thai language learners, this festival is also a wonderful opportunity to explore new vocabulary and deepen your cultural understanding. Here are some words you can learn and use this month:
- กระทง (grà-thōng) = basket / raft (originally made with banana leaves)
- น้ำ (nám) = water
- แม่น้ำ (mâe-nám) = river (literally: ‘mother-water’)
- คลอง (khlāwng) = canal
- ทะเล (thá-lāy) = sea / seaside
- ทะเลสาบ (thá-lāy-sàab) = lake
- กระแสน้ำ (grà-sǎe nám) = water current
- เทียน (thīang) = candle
- ธูป (thûub) = incense sticks
- งานเทศกาล (ngāan thâed-sà-gāan) = festival
- พระแม่คงคา (phrá-mâe khōng-khāa) = the Goddess of Water / the Goddess Ganga
- พระจันทร์เต็มดวง (phrá-jān dtēm dūang) = full moon
- ปฏิทินจันทรคติ (bpà-dtì-thīn jān-thá-rá-khá-dtì) = the lunar calendar
- ดอกไม้ (dàwk-mái) = flowers
- สด (sòd) = is fresh
- ใบตอง (bāi dtāwng) = banana leaf
- ขนมปัง (khà-hnǒm-bpāng) = bread
- เปลือกมะพร้าว (bplèuak má-phráow) = coconut shells
- ใบไม้ธรรมชาติ (bāi-mái thām-má-châad) = natural leaves (literally: ‘leaf natural’)
- โคมไฟกระดาษ (khōom-fāi grà-dàad) = paper lantern (literally: ‘lamp-paper’)
- วัสดุที่เป็นมิตรกับสิ่งแวดล้อม (wád-sà-dù thêe bpēn mīd gàb sìng-wâed-láwm) = eco-friendly materials (literally: ‘materials that friendly with things surrounding or environment’)
- ลอย (lōy) = to float
- ลอยไป (lōy bpāi) = to float away / to drift away
- จุด (jùd) = to light up (+ noun – for example: candle or incense stick)
- ปล่อย (bploi) = to release / to let go / to let it be
- ดู (dūu) = to look / to watch
- การเคารพ (gāan-khāo-rób) = respect / respecting (referring to the act of respecting something)
- ลดมลพิษ (lód mōn-lá-phíd) = to reduce pollution
- ขอพร (khǎw phōrn) = to make a wish / to ask for blessings
- ขอความสุขสวัสดี (khǎw khwāam-sùk-sà-hwàd-dēe) = to ask for happiness
- ขอความรัก (khǎw khwāam-rák) = to ask for love
- ขออโหสิกรรม (khǎw à-hǒ-sì-gām) = to ask for spiritual or karmic forgiveness (It is often used when you want to release negative karma between yourself and another person — in this life or past lives. This phrase carries a deep spiritual tone.)
- ขอขมา (khǎw khà-māa) = to ask for forgiveness / to apologise respectfully (It is used in everyday polite or ceremonial contexts, when you’ve done something wrong or may have offended someone — especially elders, teachers, or monks. It focuses on showing respect, humility, and remorse.)
You can practise by saying things like:
วันนี้เป็นวันลอยกระทง (wān-née bpēn wān lōy grà-thōng = Today is Loy Krathong Day.)
พวกเราจะไปลอยกระทงที่แม่น้ำคืนนี้ (phûak-rāo jà bpāi lōy grà-thōng thêe mâe-nám khēun-née = We will go float a krathong at the river tonight.)
จุดธูปและเทียนก่อนปล่อยกระทง (jùd thûub láe thīan gàwn bplòi gra-thōng = Light the incense sticks and candles before releasing the krathong.)
คืนนี้พวกเราจะไปขอขมาพระแม่คงคา (khēun-née phûak-rāo jà bpāi khǎw khà-māa phrá-mâe khōng-khāa = Tonight, we will go to ask for forgiveness from the Goddess of Water.)
Remember, every word you learn here isn’t just vocabulary — it carries meaning, culture, and tradition. When you say these types of sentences, you’re not just speaking Thai — you’re connecting with centuries of Thai wisdom, gratitude, and the beauty of letting go.
This Loy Krathong season, try using these words in your own sentences, or even create your own mini krathong ritual at home. Light a candle, float your intentions, and feel the connection to Thai culture and the simple joy of renewal.
Happy Loy Krathong Day, everyone!
With all my heart, 💛 — Urai
Founder of Thai Language Tuition UK
You can also find my work at: uraikhomkham.com and shop.uraikhomkham.com
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