Precious Traditions and Ways of Life |37
Northeastern Region
In the Northeastern region, Loy Krathong is known as Sip Song Peng (the full moon
of the twelfth month). Each of the Northeast provinces has its own way of celebrating
the festival. For example, Roi Et province hosts Somma Naam Kuen Peng Seng
Pratheep as a way to seek forgiveness from the River Goddess. In Sakon Nakhon
province, there is the floating of krathongs made from banana leaf sheaths
in a shape like an ancient beehive castle. The festival is called Loy Pratheep Pra
Rajathan Sip Song Peng Tai Sakon.
Southern Region
The Southern of Thailand also celebrates a great Loy Krathong festival like
other regions, especially in Had Yai district in Songkhla province. In addition to the
act of seeking forgiveness from the River Goddess (Ganges), the Southern people
believe in a Krathong floating to ward off bad luck. They use banana stalks to make
a beautiful small boat or raft filled with various food items, flower, incense, and
money before floating it away.
Central Region
The evidence of the Central region’s Loy Krathong which is regarded as a model
of the festival countrywide is traced back to the Ayutthaya period. There was a royal
ceremony called “Chong Priang Lod Chood Loy Kome”. Later in the reign of
King Nangkhao (Rama III), it was known as “Loy Pra Prateep Krathong” and has
become one of the twelve month Royal Ceremonies.
• On the Loy Krathong Day, “Krathong” will be made from various
materials, decorated like lotus flowers, together with incense sticks and
candles. People also put nails, hair or coins into the Krathong and float
it to the river to seek forgiveness from the River Goddess (Ganges).
“Countries which share the
same Loy Krathong tradition
with Thailand are the Lao
People’s Democratic Republic,
the Kingdom of Cambodia,
the Republic of the Union
of Myanmar.”