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Where to celebrate the Loy Krathong festival 2022?

If you are a new expat in Thailand or traveling to the country, and wondering what the Loy Krathong festival is, then you have come to the right place.

The Loy Krathong festival is an annual traditional Siamese festival celebrated by Thais to pay respect to the Buddha and the Goddess of Water (Phra Mae Khongkha). The festival is celebrated across the nation, where people gather around rivers, lakes, and canals to release floating lanterns or Krathongs into the water. Note that there is no public holiday for the festival, but people come together to celebrate it in the evening and different venues across the country have their own spin on celebrating the festival.

In this Pacific Prime Thailand article, let’s learn more about Loy Krathong and its significance and explore the top 4 cities to celebrate Loy Krathong 2022 in Thailand.

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When is the Loy Krathong festival celebrated?

The festival is celebrated on the evening of the 12th full moon of the Thai lunar calendar. It usually falls in November, and this year it will occur on Tuesday the 8th. Speaking of a full moon this Tuesday, did you know there will be a lunar eclipse, which is the last total lunar eclipse until 2025? The eclipse is also commonly referred to as the Beaver Blood Moon lunar eclipse, as it occurs during November’s Full Beaver Moon and will be visible across North America, the Pacific, Australia, and Asia. You can watch the full view of the red moon in Bangkok at 5:59 pm ICT (2:59 pm) on 8th November 2022.

What is the significance of Loy Krathong?

The festival dates back 800 years and is believed to have originated in the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom. The festival is a gesture to pay respect and thank Phra Mae Khongkha for a year’s worth of her abundant supply and to apologize for polluting the water

How and where to celebrate the Loy Krathong festival?

Loy Krathong is observed in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. However, the festival is celebrated on a large scale in Thailand, with the best places being Chiang Mai, Bangkok, and Phuket.

1. Chiang Mai

One of the largest cities of the North, Chiang Mai is the best place to celebrate Loy Krathong and Yee Peng. You can celebrate the two festivals in the span of 2-3 days and take part in the breathtaking festivities.

  • Release lanterns on the river for Loy Krathong on 8th November.
  • Fly floating lanterns for Yee Peng 7th-9th November.

2. Sukhothai

Loy Krathong originated in Sukhothai and is one of the best places to experience the festival in all its glory. Apart from the floating lanterns, you can also take part in a beauty contest, parades, folk music, and the famous Sukhothai light and sound show.

3. Bangkok

If you are unable to travel to Chiang Mai or Sukhothai for Loy Krathong, it’s okay because Bangkok celebrates the floating-lantern festival with its unique activities. “Festival of colors Loy Krathong Festival” will be held during November 6-8th 2022, at Santichaiprakarn Park, with many interesting activities.

4. Phuket

Another beautiful city to celebrate Loy Krathong is Phuket. The festival is celebrated a little differently in Phuket, without the festive crowds, and most hotels and resorts offer classes on making your own Krathong, you can enjoy the festival on the beach.

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Lakshmi is an experienced writer with a passion for insurance trends and economics. She has been writing professionally for the past 6 years. Lakshmi has worked on numerous in-depth reports analyzing various insurance trends and providing valuable insights for readers.

Since joining Pacific Prime, Lakshmi has gained a comprehensive understanding of different kinds of health insurance and their importance in people's lives. Her expertise in this area has allowed her to produce informative and engaging content that helps individuals make informed decisions regarding their health insurance.

Lakshmi's clear, concise, and engaging writing style makes complex insurance concepts accessible to readers of all levels and also adheres to Pacific Prime’s motto: - “Simplifying Insurance.”
Lakshmi Chirumamilla