The Loy Krathong tradition is an ancient one with various purposes. It serves as religious worship, a way to dispel misfortune, a preservation of culture, a celebration, and a boost for tourism. It also includes asking Phra Mae Khongkha (the Water Goddess) for forgiveness, acknowledging the river's bounty we utilize, and apologizing for polluting the waterways.
Therefore, to keep the Water Goddess happy—and not add to her headaches—we should consider what our Krathongs are made of, where they will end up, and whether they can be beneficial to anyone.
Each year, Krathongs floated in rivers must be collected to prevent them from decomposing in excessive amounts and spoiling the water. Some uncollected Krathongs flow out to sea, or in areas where they are floated in the ocean, they may be washed back onto the beaches by waves, impacting the local ecosystem. Furthermore, Krathongs floated in closed water systems (like ponds) can rot and degrade water quality if left unattended. In 2024 (B.E. 2567), Bangkok alone collected 514,590 Krathongs. While most were made from natural materials, difficult-to-decompose Styrofoam Krathongs were still present.
So, how can you float your Krathong and become the Water Goddess's favorite?
Choose Krathongs made from natural, decomposable, and easily collected materials, such as banana leaves, banana tree trunks, and various flowers. Use natural materials to assemble them, like wooden pins, toothpicks, or cotton thread. Krathongs made from 100% natural materials can be repurposed (e.g., made into fertilizer). Avoid using pins, small nails, or staples, which can rust in the water and harm aquatic animals.
Avoid Krathongs made of bread or colored fish-food corn. Although they decompose naturally, if there are too many of them (or not enough fish to eat them), they can easily pollute the water and are harder to collect than banana leaf Krathongs.
Do not use Krathongs made from Styrofoam, plastic, or coated paper. They are difficult to decompose and pollute the water sources.
Make your own ice Krathong with flowers grown at home. Besides being environmentally friendly, it's refreshing and saves money.
One Krathong per family. This helps reduce waste and pollution.
Choose your location wisely. Whether floating in a river, pond, or the sea, check if the area has a post-event management plan to ensure the Krathongs are handled properly and don't give the Water Goddess a headache. It's even better if the event includes waste separation.
Float a Krathong online. Float beautifully with just a click, generating zero waste.
The Thailand Environment Institute (TEI) invites all Thais to partake in the Loy Krathong tradition in an environmentally conscious manner. By not creating waste or pollution and by helping to care for our water sources, we can truly repay the benevolence of Phra Mae Khongkha—and all waterways—that sustain our lives with their abundance.
Source: เพจ: กรุงเทพมหานคร
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