Loy Krathong: Festival of Lights

The first krathong sighting on the lake at Lumpini park at dusk

10 November, 2011:  After class, the Evacuation 2554 crew (me, Carolina, Josje and Suba) went straight to Lumpini Park to prepare for what we were told, was a spectacular festival of lights, Loy Krathong.  We brought our homework, staked out a spot on the lake with the perfect view, and read away the afternoon waiting for it to get dark.  We took a break from our studies by going to purchase a few krathongs of our own and spent twenty minutes agonizing over which color flowers we should each chose!

We ate a delicious picnic dinner of curries, papaya salad, noodles and pineapple on the grass waiting with immense anticipation, for the action.

Thai Family lighting krathong together

Around 7:00 pm, little lights started to appear all over the lake.  People were lighting their krathongs and setting them afloat along the beds of the lake.  Carolina and I decided to walk around the lake and see all of the excitement.  In the first ten minutes of our lap around the lake, I spent every second trying to “document” what I was seeing with my camera.  Like a true unprofessional photojournalist – I had the naïve idea I could capture all of this on my camera…but with the low-lighting it was near impossible.  Frustrated – I angrily put my camera away, and it was really only then that I was able to see the beauty of the Loy Krathong festival.

Every krathong was different!

  Due to the floods in Bangkok, most of the events for the Festival of Lights were cancelled, but Lumpini Park was one of the few designated areas where people could let their krathongs lose – on the condition that instead of each individual having their own krathong, one family could send off one krathong.  It was beautiful to watch entire families, hunched over at the corner of the lake, lighting their krathong, saying a prayer all holding hands, and all placing the krathong in the water together to let it go.  I saw grandparents holding their grandchildren’s hands and father’s helping their children light their krathong.  Each krathong was special and unique – some with intricate design, some with sparkling candles, others with paper flowers…each one was different.

Placing my Krathong in the water

This was the first time since the floods, that I had seen so many people, and it was the first time since the floods, that I saw so many families.  Although we were told this celebration was nothing compared to past years and the poor turnout was due to the floods, I was so so happy to see so many people coming out for Loy Krathong and so so happy to see people!  Due to the flooding, Bangkok became a quiet, eerie, deserted town.  This was the first time it seemed full of life – and it was wonderful to see.

The most adorable couple on the lake that I couldn't help but stalk.  Truly beautiful.