Loy Krathong Festival 2021

One of the biggest festivals in Thailand is Loy Krathong, celebrating different aspects of the Buddha’s life during the full moon in November.

“Krathong” translates to banana leaf and is also the word used for the floating lanterns. People decorate their krathong with flowers, incense, candles, and even sometimes with an offering of money for the river goddess. They light the candles, make a wish, and place it in the water, letting go of negativity as it floats away. Buddhist temples and sites around town get beautifully decorated with hundreds of lanterns too.

I was in Chiang Mai to celebrate Loy Krathong this year, and it was a beautiful experience! Cream and I went all around the city to the places in the photos below.

While I didn’t hear of any “official” fireworks shows, large fireworks are sold by street vendors all over town, and people go to the Ping River to shoot them off above the water.