Loy Krathong festival (also spelt loi krathong) is one of the most elegant festivals in Thailand if not in Asia. Held on the full moon of the 12th moon of the lunar calendar, this celebration generally falls in November and this year will be celebrated between the 21st to the 24th November.

Loy Krathong festival is probably my favourite festival in Thailand because of the graceful and beauty of the celebration. Loy Krathong literally is the festival of lights, loy means to float and krathong is a small round float traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk or other basic materials and decorated with fresh flowers and leaves to represent a sort of lotus leaf with incense and a candle in the middle. At just about every piece of water including large ponds, lakes and rivers people go with their loved ones in the evening and under the light of the full moon light the candles and incense and release their floats, making a quiet prayer as they do so, couples will often release floats together to pray for a lasting love. This beautiful sight is repeated throughout the country and creates a special kind of calm almost meditative state in the onlookers. That is until the fireworks and partying start-this is Thailand.

The purpose of the festival is predominantly to give thanks to the water spirits and goddess of the river and ask their forgiveness for dirtying the waters. It also marks a close of the wet season. Releasing the floats is also symbolic of releasing grudges, sins and bad thoughts, so that one can start anew in the dry season.

The main celebration in Bangkok is located around the Chao Phraya river where there is also an illuminated boat procession.

In Chiang Mai the festival, sometimes called Yi Peng, lasts for three days and is focused around the Ping river. There are boat races and special floating lanterns are released into the sky, on the last day a great parade takes place

< Sukhothai is believed to be the where the celebration originated and is celebrated for longer here. It is marked by parades, firework displays, concerts and a beauty contest, there are also special hanging krathong that can be four feet in height. This celebration pulls in large numbers of visitors so Sukhothai hotels and accommodation can be expensive.

Loy Krathong festival is a very old and important festival in the Thai calendar and I would highly recommend anyone to come and see this beautiful cultural spectacle for themselves.