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Last update: 07/17/2012

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The Encycloedea of Northern Thai Culture (1999, pp.2852-2853) gives an account of the coming of the Loi Krathong tradition in Lanna as follows:

Loi Krathong is an ancient tradition believed to be an influence of the Indian Festival of Lights or Diwali which is meant to pay respect to the three prominent gods of the Brahman religion: Phra Phrom, Phra Isuan and Phra Narai. The Thai people have adopted and modified the concept to incorporate their local beliefs. Loi Krathong in Thailand is a manner to ask for forgiveness from the goddess of the Khongkha or Ganges River.

This was because the country's staple means of living was agriculture which had to depend mainly on water from the rivers and waterways for crop cultivation. Later, Loi Krathong became accepted by Thais from all regions of the country and it has become part of the nation's identity and different regions may have slightly a different means of expression, depending on the people's lifestyle and culture as well as local beliefs.

Most of the krathongs or floats are made in the shape of a lotus blossom using local material that are easy to obtain. Flowers, a candle and incense sticks are put inside the float before floating it on the river. Some people put pieces of their hair as a way of floating away their bad luck. Some add a little money or coins to make merit. Young people pray for success in their love life.

It is said that Princess Dararassami of Chiang Mai, the Royal Consort of King Rama V, was the one who initiated the festival in Chiang Mai between B.E. 2460 – 2470. At that time, they merely used coconut husks to float like a boat or a swan and sometimes they used just piece of a wooden tree branch to make a small boat with some burning incense sticks. It was not very popular at first as people preferred decorating their houses with lanterns and set up forest gates and attending the preaching of the sermon Mahachat or Tang Tham Luang.

When Mr. Thim Chotana was the Mayor of Chiang Mai in B.E. 2490, he tried to promote Loi Krathong to boost tourism. The center of the festival was around Thapae Gate and the Buddhist Meeting Hall (Phutathasathan) near the Ping River. In B.E. 2512 the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chiang Mai Office, tried to seriously promote Loi Krathong to be like that of Bangkok.

Competition was arranged for small floats and big floats. Later the Night Bazaar Entrepreneur Association added a competition of Yipeng Lanterns.

Thawi Khueankaeo (1998, pp.83-87) explains the Yipeng Wanethan or objectives and the reasons for the merit making for Yipeng. The one who performs the rite (wanethan) is the elder who performed the rite (phuchan or makhathayok). After the ritual is an alms offering to the monks and receiving the blessing from the monks who chant in Pali with some present day Thai mixed in. Part of the content mentions the ancient tradition and the story of the Bodhisattva and his reincarnation and the white crow mother and five baby crows that miraculously survived who became the Five Buddhas and the coming into existence of the phang prathit light worship in Yipeng, the lighting of lanterns and fireworks as part of the worship and all kinds of than or the merit of giving become a record to one's faith and capacity such as listening to sermon preaching and giving of necessary things to monks or the poor. The result of these will gain the givers or participants great merit and relieve him and his deceased relatives from suffering to the point of gaining rebirth to a better life or condition or even become an angel in heaven. After the long narration of all the good deeds one should do on Yipeng, the monks will end the preaching with a chant in Pali blessing the people with happiness and a chance for achieving nirvana.

This information also comes from that given by Thawi Khueankaeo (1998, pp.83-88)
The chant to begining the Mahachat sermon preaching also begins with a set of Pali words and is then followed by a prayer in the Northern Dialect about all the faithful Buddhist devotees having the faith to listen to the sermon about Vessandon from when he descended from heaven and is conceived in the womb of Queen Pussadee of King Sisanchai, his marriage to Matsi and having two sons Chali and Kanha, his Dhamma or giving merit of a white elephant, his hermit life, the story of Chuchok who asks for his two sons and giving his own wife until the god Indra has to intervene and all of that until their return safely to their city. All of this is a good example to encourage everybody to seek the opportunity to make them give to accrue merit for their better condition, of which listening to the preaching is one of the means. Then they conclude it with some more Pali phrases to emphasize the happiness and good things they will receive from the activities.

Northern poetic recitation about Anitsong (the merit) of the Vessandon sermon

This is mainly a summary of each episode and listing of the merit of listening to the episode prescribed for one's birth year to assure prosperity and longevity.

Examples are as follows:

Come all ye for the Mahachat preaching
To enhance thy hope and merit making
One who detached himself from all things,
His possessions, wife, daughters and sons.
The Sermon prescribed for one's zodiac and birth
Are great merit for supporting our religion.

The Pussadi episode will bring forth a pleasant apperance,
Be it body, complexion or eyes.
It will award to you a palace to reside in.

The Himaphan episode is good for one
Born in the year of the Bull
To be rich in jewels
And have a good spouse and family.

The Tanakan is for the year of the Tiger.
It will award you with lots of servants,
Whereas Wanaprawet is for the year of the Rabbit.
And Mahasikha makes you safe and sound.
Chuchok if for those born in the year of the big snake.
The Sermon brings great fortune and happiness
Just like Chuchok enjoyed Amittada.

Chunphon is for the year of the small snake.
This person will be delighted in a vast garden
As with a big house and all the facilities.
Mahaphon is for the year of the horse,
Enriched with fruitful produce.
Kumanban is for those born in the year of the goat
A high rank and honor is granted
All are sure to be with Ariyamettai.

Matsi is for the year of the monkey.
The merit will grant them longevity
A pleasant appearance and a life of splendor.
Sakkaban is for the year of the Cock
Giving in abundance
All that is lost shall be found.

Maharat goes with the year of the dog
Abounding in rank, praise and servants.
Chakasat matches with the year of the pig
Of good health, honor and safety be
While Nakhonkan of the Last episode
When Vessandon returns home
To assume his majestic throne
Being happy with wife and children all.

May all the faithful who attend
This grand sermon be, then,
Happy, healthy and wealthy
Till they receive all the merit recited thus far,
Obtain the glorious nirvana at the end,
And this poet come to cease his singing
As we depart for a while now.

Thaokhao Baokalong

The Sahathammikaram Forest Temple (Sipradu)
Tambon Mae Pang, Phrao District, Chiang Mai

Information/Writing/Picture
Prasong Saengngam, expert on Lanna Traditions
and Living Library Team for developing the Learning Society Northern Information Section,
Chiang Mai University Library and the Information Technology Service Center
July 2009

Northern Thai Information Center (NTIC),
Chiang Mai University Library in collaboration with Information Technology Service Center
239 Huay Kaew Rd., Mueang District, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50200
Tel. +66 (0) 5394 4514, +66 (0) 5394 4517 email: ntic@lib.cmu.ac.th
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