Loy Krathong ‘Festival of Lights’

This Thai festival is celebrated every year. Loy means to float and krathong is a small raft. This festival was adapted by Buddhists in Thailand as a ceremony to honor the Lord Buddha. Apart from venerating the Buddha with light (the candle on the raft), the act of floating away the candle raft is symbolic of letting go of all one’s grudges, anger and defilements, so that one can start life afresh on a better foot. The flame is believed to signify longevity, fulfillment of wishes and release from sins. Click here for more details on Loy Krathong.

Originally, the krathong was made of banana leaves or the layers of the trunk of a banana tree or a spider lily plant. A krathong contains food, betel nuts, flowers, joss sticks, candle and coins. The making of a krathong is much more creative these days as many more materials are available.

Traditional food for this festival include: Krathong Tong (minced chicken and vegetables in crispy Krathong baskets); Nua Yang (marinated strips of beef, grilled and served on sticks); Tom Jerdt Tao-Hoo Moo Sap (vegetables and minced pork in a broth flavored with garlic and coriander root); Nua Pat Prik Thai Dum (stir-fried beef in an aromatic black pepper sauce); Gaeng Khua Gai (curry made with tender pieces of chicken breast and pineapple cooked in coconut milk infused with herbs and spices); Khao Suey (steamed Thai fragrant rice); Pat Pak Tofu (stir fried mixed vegetables with bean curd).

The Culinary Chase’s Note: The building we live in had their own Loy Krathong celebrations last night complete with krathong making demonstrations, a special buffet for this event, traditional Thai dance provided by the staff topped off by setting the krathongs free in the swimming pool. A great time had by all and I enjoyed learning something new about the Thai culture. Saturday, 24th November is the official night for Loy Krathong as it falls on the day of the November full moon. A great opportunity to get a view from a rooftop to see all the lovely krathong’s floating along all of Thailand’s canals and waterways.