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Take one of the best natural scenarios in the world, the island of Phuket, and add a huge traditional and religious celebration, the most revered in whole of Thailand. Commonly known to westerners as the “Lantern festival,” this yearly event is deeply embedded in Thai culture. Loy Krathong – the original name of the event– literally means, “floating basket.” It is celebrated during a full moon on the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, usually overlapping with November. This year the festivity will be take place on November 3rd.

Loy Krathong is meant to bring good luck and its magic and evocative surroundings channel an extraordinary emotional force, involving the entire Thai population. The krathong is an embellished lantern that holds candles and incense sticks that are plunged into the water at sundown. Generally, the lantern resembles a lotus flower, a swan or a stupa. Nothing is casual in
a krathong, all of its elements are precisely symbolic and many Thais place money on it in sign of prosperity and richness, or hair and nails to represent misfortunes and negative feelings.
This is why, according to the tradition, the more the lantern moves away from the shore, the more people will be lucky. Whereas, if the krathong doesn’t go much further or falls upside down immediately, people will see it as a sign of bad luck.

The use of candles is due to the strong Buddhist implication of this celebration, as they represent the light to venerate Buddha. Moreover, while plunging the lantern into the water, Thais usually recite a simple prayer to express certain wishes. It is said that Loy Krathong was originally held in Sukhothai (north of Bangkok) when the city was at its peak. According to one interpretation, the feast was established as homage to a water goddess called Phra Mae Khongkha to thank her for the abundant rivers. The most ancient testimonies of Loy Krathong date back to the thirteenth century. The celebration was called Pa Chong Riang and was created to venerate Hindu gods Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. The Buddhist imprint on the feast became more and more marked over the years. There is also a variant of Loy Krathong called Yi Peng. In this case, lanterns are not plunged into the water but are set loose into the sky, although the ritual and its meaning are the same.

The charm of Loy Krathong is evident, as many tourists are enchanted by the magnetism and the suggestive location of the event every year. Before sundown, next to the water banks, there are plenty of stands selling lanterns made of banana bark and leaves. There are also some varieties of krathong made of bread dough; a key feature is that the material of the lantern must be biodegradable. Everyone can take part in this ancient and beloved celebration, schools close in the entire country so that every family member can express their wishes. The occasion is particularly special for lovers as it is a common belief that when two krathongs placed inside the water by a couple follow the same current, the couple will have a bright and happy future. Over the years, Loy Krathong has become a huge gathering and party. This is confirmed by the numerous events surrounding the official celebrations, not necessarily belonging to the Thai tradition, such as concerts, beauty pageants and firework shows.

Phuket – the biggest island in Thailand with superfine beaches ranking among the best in the country – is of course at the forefront in Loy Krathong celebrations. Two hot spots are the beaches of Nai Harna and Patong, with their famous clubs Kata and Karon. In Phuket Town, the most crowded area of the island, the parks stay open all night long – Saphan Jin Park and Suan Luang Rama IX Park being the busiest places to celebrate the event.

Words Francesco Paolo Giordano
Photography Taylor Weidman/Getty Images
Photography MADAREE TOHLALA/AFP/Getty Images
Photography Taylor Weidman/Getty Images