“Loy Krathong” is known as Thailand’s most beautiful festival.
Taking place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, people decorate their krathong made of banana leaves with flowers and candles and launch them on the water.
It is believed that if the candle stays lit, your wish will come true.
In the ancient capital of Sukhothai, thousands of krathong are launched on the pond around the Mahathat Temple, a World Heritage Site, giving you a serene feel of the place’s 700-year-old history.
Tens of thousands of visitors from around the world come to the ruins of Sukhothai during the Loy Krathong period, where many food stalls are set up, and people enjoy a solemn yet festive night.
Most people are unaware that after the festivities are over and all the tourists have gone, another ceremony called the “Dawn of Happiness” is quietly held. The name “Sukhothai” originally means “dawn of happiness”, and it is this festival that I felt truly represented Sukhothai’s Loy Krathong.
It was around six am, and the crisp morning air just before dawn filled the Sukhothai ruins, which had until a few hours prior been full of tourists.
To the west of the main complex, the Wat Mahathat, there is a lake called the Trapang Ngoen (“Silver Lake”).
There is a small island in the middle of the lake with the foundation and pillars of an old ordination hall structure.
About 50 people (presumably locals) gathered with offerings, and put their hands together as they watched the Buddhist monks chanting in the ruins.
Just around the time the chanting stopped, I could see the sun slowly rising from the Wat Mahathat, across the lake to the east. This truly was the “Dawn of Happiness”.
The people presented their offerings to the Buddhist monks after they had stopped chanting.
Perhaps after washing away their misfortunes the night before, they then attain the chance to “restart”.
I could sense their joy in celebrating something pure and new being born.
Perhaps this annual festival is celebrated to mark and appreciate the fact that we have made it through another year without a hitch.
The Buddha statue of Wat Mahathat smiled softly, just as it has done for hundreds of years.
by Kazuhiko Kato