Mai Davika in Loy Krathong Day 🇹🇭

 

Nang Noppamas (นางนพมาศ) was the lady in Sukhothai Kingdom (around 13th century) who was believed to create the first Krathong (a basket made by banana leaves and flowers) and started the Loy Krathong Festival. She became the queen consort of a Sukhothai king named Phra Ruang (พระร่วง) and was later titled as Tao Sri Chulalak (ท้าวศรีจุฬาลักษณ์).

 

Loy Krathong is a Thai festival in November each year celebrated throughout the kingdom since Sukhothai period as well as nearby countries or states with Tai culture such as Laos , Shan/Mon/Tanintharyi , Kelantan/Kedah and Xishuangbanna with different names.

Loy Krathong means "to float a basket" by making Krathong or buoyant, decorated baskets, which are then floated on a river in order to thank the Goddess of Water; Phra Mae Khongkha or Hindu Goddess Ganga.

 

Cambodia also got influenced from Thailand and recently copied Thai Loy Krathong festival by creating a very similar event for the Cambodians to carry Krathong baskets to float in the river like Thai people do.