Old city Sukhothai Loy Krathong.

As one of the most enchanting of all Thai festivals, Loy Krathong can be a joy to experience wherever you are in Thailand. But there are some locations, such as Sukhothai and Chiang Mai, where the ‘Festival of Lights’ is extra special. According to Thai folklore, the Loy Krathong Festival originated in Sukhothai. Established in 1238, the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai was a thriving, prosperous region. Local legend says that at some time in the 14th century a noble lady called Nang Noppamas, a consort of the King of Sukhothai, made the first decorated krathong as a gift for the king. The daughter of a Brahmin priest, Noppamas adapted an existing Brahmin tradition by delicately moulding banana leaves into the shape of a lotus flower before adding a candle and incense sticks. The story goes on to say that the king lit the candle and the incense sticks and floated the krathong on one of the waterways that surrounded the city of Sukhothai. It’s a romantic story, but whether it’s true or not is unclear. Some historians say that Noppamas was a fictional character who first appeared in a book written in the 18th century. Whatever the true origins of Loy Krathong are, the event is regarded by Thai people as the most romantic of Thailand’s many festivals. And Noppamas is still remembered in the modern-day celebrations with Loy Krathong beauty queen contests held in locations around Thailand to find a local lady worthy of the title ‘Nang Noppamas’. Loy Krathong The word ‘loy’ (also written as ‘loi‘) means to float and a ‘krathong’ is a small raft or basket. Traditionally, the person floating the krathong will often take a strand of their hair or fingernail which will then be added to the krathong together with some coins. The candle and incense are then lit and a wish is made before the krathong is placed on the nearest stretch of water. It is believed that the krathong carries away bad luck and signals a fresh start. Coming at the end of the rainy season, Loy Krathong also pays homage to the water goddess, Mae Kongkha (Mother of Waters) and the krathongs are offerings to her. CHOOSE YOUR KRATHONG Some of the most beautiful krathongs are made from all natural materials such as banana leaves, the bark of a tree and flowers just as they would have been made when the tradition first started. Modern-day Loy Krathong sees a mix of krathongs being made including some which use the dreaded styrofoam. In Sukhothai, the waterways are enclosed and any krathongs which aren’t bio-degradable can be fished out and disposed of without causing any significant damage to the water and wildlife. Sadly, that isn’t the case in other areas of Thailand although trends are changing for the better as people become more environmentally aware. In recent years there has been an encouraging move towards using traditional, natural krathongs and fish-friendly bread krathongs in the shape of turtles have also proved popular.