Loy Krathong is perhaps one of my favourite festivals. Despite the crowds which gather beside rivers and canals, it’s a relatively quiet and peaceful event where people meet with family and friends to float a “Krathong”. The Krathong is a small basket, traditionally made of woven banana leaves and decorated with flowers, candles and incense.
Devotees offer the krathong to the ebb and flow of the river, sending it off with a prayer and a wish. The festival is an opportunity to cast away sinful acts and to ask for wishes to be fulfilled.
This year I photographed at Wat Yannawa, a large temple beside the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok. These are a few of the images.
Monks holding a Krathong, ready to float on the river.
A novice monk at Wat Yannawa.
Students from Satrisi Suriyothai school prepare their Krathong.
Preparing to lift the Krathong into the Chao Phraya river on the end of a pole.
A young boy holding the Krathong before placing it on the river.
A Buddhist monk beside the floating candles.
A girl and her father look at the floating Krathong candles.
A monk collecting donations made to the temple.
Releasing a lantern into the night sky.
A solitary lantern rises into the night sky above Bangkok.