Beliefs in Loi Krathong Day and Yi Peng Lantern Festival

Beliefs in Loi Krathong Day: Connecting with the Yi Peng Lantern Festival

Discover the Cultural Significance and Traditions of Loi Krathong and Yi Peng Lantern Festival

In Thailand's northern region, the Loi Krathong tradition is known as "Yi Peng," a festival celebrated on the full moon day of the second month in the Lanna calendar, which corresponds to the twelfth month in the Thai calendar. The event, also called "Kite Hom" or "Smoke Kite," involves releasing lanterns made of thin cloth filled with smoke to float in the air as a tribute to Phra Upakut. This revered figure is believed to have practiced mystical spells in the depths of the ocean or at the sea's navel, a belief shared by the Burmese people.

Beliefs in Loi Krathong Day:

1. Loi Krathong as a way to ask for forgiveness from Phra Mae Ganga: Participants create Krathongs and float them in rivers as a way to seek forgiveness from Phra Mae Ganga, the guardian of the Ganges River and water sources worldwide. This ritual acknowledges the pollution and waste humans generate, which impacts water sources.
2. Loi Krathong to worship the gods: Loi Krathong is based on Brahmanism beliefs and involves worshipping gods like Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. Floating lanterns also pay tribute to the Buddha's footprint enshrined at the Nammada River's sandy beach. In northern Thailand, it's believed to be a ceremony honoring Phra Upakudta Thera, who practiced incantations in the depths of the sea.
3. Cut the ends of the hair and nails into the Krathong: Ancient beliefs hold that placing cut hair and nail ends into the Krathong symbolizes floating away misfortune, suffering, and bad things, a ritual also known as self-exorcism.
4. Put money in the Krathong: Some believe that including money in the Krathong will attract wealth, resulting in financial abundance and prosperity.
5. Upside-down Krathong: Many fear their Krathong might overturn, as it's believed to bring bad luck or misfortune. However, this is more of a personal belief, as overturned Krathongs can result from strong currents or winds.
6. Take a bath under the moonlight: On Loi Krathong's full moon night, people traditionally bathed under the moonlight to wash away bad things and bring prosperity to their lives. This practice was also believed to make one's skin as soft as moonlight.

Connecting Loi Krathong Day and Yi Peng Lantern Festival, these celebrations showcase the rich cultural beliefs and practices that have been passed down through generations. As we honor these traditions, we also forge connections with our past and the spiritual world around us.