In the Thai language, Loi Krathong means to float a basket. The festival of Loi Krathong is celebrated on the night of the full moon in the twelfth month of the traditional Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in November. Spending time with family, eating delicious food and having fun are all part of the holiday, but the high point of the festival is when everyone goes to the river to float their handmade krathong.
Eye is a teacher at the Ubon Adventist International Mission School. She teaches the children about the Thai language and culture. Here she is making a traditional krathong from the trunk and leaves of a banana tree. Later, she will decorate the basket with flowers.
May is the registrar and Thai language teacher at the Ubon Seventh-day Adventist Language School. She helped the teachers make krathongs. Here she is helping Teacher Kari make her krathong while teaching her the Thai words for each part of the basket.
Karina, Jackson and Dylan near the Mun River in Ubon Ratchathani getting ready to float their krathong. Karina and Jackson are student missionaries from Walla Walla University, and Dylan is from Southwestern Adventist University.
On the evening of Loi Krathong, the bank of the Mun River comes alive with vendors selling food and crafts, bright lights and fireworks, and crowds of festival goers all looking for a spot to float their krathongs.
A Thai family gathers in a shallow spot at the river’s edge to float their krathong. Some people say that in the past the floating krathong was an offering to water spirits. Others say it is a gift for the Lord Buddha. Some say they do it for good luck. For most people, it is a time to enjoy life and spend time with loved ones.
Another part of the festival that is very popular is the flying of lantern balloons called khom loi. Khom loi are typically made from rice paper stretched over a wire frame. A candle is attached at the center of the opening underneath the lantern.
Two Thai men hold their khom loi down waiting for the air inside the lantern to heat up before they release it into the night sky.
Many rituals in Thai culture and religion center on the elements of light and water. Interestingly, there are many rituals and symbols in Scripture regarding light and water that God uses to teach us about His plan of salvation. Please continue to pray for us as we search for ways to build bridges between Thai culture and the rich symbolism of the Bible.
