Honouring Water: Exploring the Shared Traditions of Loy Krathong and Its Asian Counterparts

Thursday, 14 November 2024 |
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Language, Culture, and Heritage

Honouring Water: Exploring the Shared Traditions of Loy Krathong and Its Asian Counterparts
Pintip Iamnirath, Deputy Director (Admin & Communication), SEAMEO Secretariat
Pitchayawadi Arreenich, Knowledge Management Officer, SEAMEO Secretariat

 

 

The Loy Krathong Festival, one of Thailand’s most iconic and visually captivating celebrations, is held annually on the full moon night of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, typically falling in November. This festival of floating offerings, however, is not unique to Thailand; similar traditions are found throughout Asia, each with its own historical roots and cultural adaptations. Early depictions of floating offerings appear in Cambodia’s Bayon Temple, dating back to around 1208, highlighting the long-standing regional reverence for water as a sacred element. As Buddhism and Hinduism spread across Southeast Asia, offerings evolved to honour Buddha and Hindu deities alongside local spirits, with some historians suggesting that Loy Krathong may also have been influenced by Chinese customs of floating paper lanterns.

Yi Peng in Chiang Mai

Loy Krathong in Sukhothai

 

Although Loy Krathong is most closely associated with Thailand, similar festivals are celebrated across other Asian countries—including India, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and China—where people float offerings on rivers, lakes, or release lanterns into the sky, creating enchanting displays of light. These time-honoured festivals carry profound spiritual meaning, drawing communities together to honour water deities, seek blessings, and symbolically release negative energy, ushering in peace and prosperity for the year ahead. Here are six traditional festivals from Asian countries that share the underlying beliefs and themes of this water-based celebration.

Loy Krathong – Thailand

Thailand
The “Loy Krathong” takes place each year on the full moon night of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, typically in November. The name "Loy Krathong" comes from “loy,” meaning “to float,” and “krathong,” a term for a small, decorated floating vessel. The festival’s highlight is the release of these beautifully adorned krathongs onto rivers and waterways, lighting up the night with a serene glow. During this time, people pay homage to Phra Mae Khongkha, the Thai goddess of water, to express gratitude and seek blessings for prosperity, fertility, and forgiveness for any harm caused to water bodies.

Diwali/Deepavali – India

India
The "Diwali" or "Deepavali" Festival of Lights is celebrated widely in India and among Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists around the world. Lasting five days, Diwali typically falls in late October or November, with the main festivities occurring on the third day. Devotees honour Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, by lighting “diyas” (oil lamps) and candles to dispel darkness and negative forces, symbolising the victory of good over evil and the welcoming of new beginnings and abundance.

Tazaungdaing – Myanmar

Myanmar
The "Tazaungdaing" Festival, or Festival of Lights, is celebrated on the full moon of Tazaungmon, the eighth month in the Burmese calendar, marking the close of the rainy season. This vibrant festival honours Buddha and water spirits through colourful lantern displays, elaborate light decorations, and offerings made along rivers. While the tradition of floating krathongs is uncommon in Myanmar, communities near the Thai border, influenced by Thai customs, observe rituals that capture the spirit of Loy Krathong.

Boun Awk Phansa – Lao PDR

Lao PDR
The "Boun Awk Phansa" festival marks the end of "Buddhist Lent" or "Phansa," a three-month period when monks traditionally retreat to monasteries for meditation, study, and reflection during the rainy season. Held on the full moon of the 11th lunar month, the festival features vibrant celebrations such as boat races, illuminated boat processions, and the floating of krathongs. These activities honour the Mekong River and pay tribute to Lord Buddha, symbolising his journey to heaven to visit his mother.

Bon Om Touk – Cambodia

Cambodia
The "Bon Om Touk" festival, which translates to the "Water Gathering Festival," celebrates the annual reversal of the Tonle Sap River's flow. This extraordinary natural phenomenon highlights the river's vital role in the lives of the Cambodian people, particularly for fishing and agriculture. Held around the same time as Loy Krathong in Thailand, the festival features boat races, prayers, and water offerings to honour river spirits. In some regions, the tradition of floating offerings blends Cambodian customs with elements of Loy Krathong, reflecting a shared reverence for water and a collective hope for blessings of prosperity and peace.

Xià Yuán Jié – China

China
The "Xià Yuán Jié" festival, or "Festival of the Lower Heaven," takes place on the 15th day of the 10th month in the Chinese lunar calendar. Rooted in Taoist beliefs, the festival centers on honouring water deities and seeking forgiveness for past wrongdoings. Celebrants engage in practices such as floating lanterns, candlelight rituals, and releasing fish and turtles into rivers, symbolising purification and the earning of merit for the soul. The term "lower" refers to the festival’s focus on harmonising the earthly realm with the celestial forces, bridging the human world with the divine.