Thailand puts Loy Krathong up for UNESCO status
Thailand's next cultural moonshot is pushing for the inclusion of the Thai full moon festival, Loy Krathong, on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. With the Thai Cabinet giving the green light this March, official approval from UNESCO is expected to take three to five years.
Loy Krathong lands every November with a full moon. People release lotus-shaped banana leaf baskets called krathong, adorned with candles, incense and flowers, before being set afloat in rivers, lakes and canals. But today, krathongs are getting wilder and more varied.
Though the vessel is now a personal canvas, the essence of the festival remains sacred. The act honours Buddha and the water goddess Phra Mae Thorani, as well as its core Buddhist message: letting go and starting anew. As the water flows, so do your wishes, carried downstream to new beginnings.
Bangkokians usually hit up Asiatique for the full-on firework glow-up or head to Wat Arun and Lumpini Park for something more low-key. Lately though, greener ways to celebrate have popped up. Last year, Chulalongkorn University teamed up with Siam Square for an eco-minded event featuring a 30-metre LED pool mimicking floating krathongs, plus games, food stalls and live acts.
This isn't Thailand's first UNESCO rodeo. The country has already secured heritage status for Songkran, traditional Thai massage and the Khon dance drama, among other homegrown cultural delights.
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