The classic Loi Krathong Festival (ประเภณีลอยกระทง) at Golden Mount Temple

---

---

Loi Krathong Festival (ประเภณีลอยกระทง) has finally arrived once again. A beautiful full moon, the dark sky, the high tide river and the colourful flower basket made of Banana leaves known as 'Krathong' and 'Loi' basically mean 'To float'.

The festival where you float a flower basket! Siamese festival celebrated annually throughout the Kingdom of Thailand and in nearby countries

This year it happened on Monday, November 11, 2019. Luckily, I have been in Bangkok and for sure, first place that came to mind for enjoying this place, Golden Mount Temple! Another lucky one is that, we went all together with https://travelfeed.io team after their very first meet-up ever so. The more the merrier! and yes, yes, yes, it sure was!

The Golden Mount Temple (วัดภูเขาทอง)

The Golden Mount Temple (วัดภูเขาทอง) or Wat Saket (วัดสระเกศ) located just right in Bangkok Old Town. At night, if you come around there, you just couldn't miss that shiny golden Pagoda high up on the hill stand out from anything around.

Talking about Loi Krathong Festival (ประเภณีลอยกระทง), there's no way Thai people don't think about this place. It's a classic one. The temple fair / outdoor market is always fun and real genuine here. Those are some of the reasons we chose it here this year and forgot about the possibility, how busy the place could be..

The temple fair at The Golden Mount Temple (วัดภูเขาทอง)

One reason I love this kind of fair so much it how fun and colourful it is.. You could totally spend the time here all night long if you're not too sick of the crowd first..

It's a Thai traditional fair that literally, you can't really find it easily elsewhere. Here, at The Golden Mount Temple (วัดภูเขาทอง), they still keep such authentic beauty of it. So much street food, classic haunted house (the one you'd rather find it funny than scary lol), playground, ferris wheels, and a lot more fun you'd find once you walk towards the temple itself.

I energised it up with some watermelon slush and tako yaki before beginning the hiking jouney. Not really, like, hike-hike but you get an idea..

I love how colourful it could get.

I wouldn't use these colours to decorate my bedroom as it's not quite my favourite tone but during Loi Krathong Festival (ประเภณีลอยกระทง), I happen to just love it..

Why Loi Krathong Festival (ประเภณีลอยกระทง)?

The purpose of the fest, firstly, it's believed to be a good way of showing how thankful we are to the water mother. Thanks for us to still have water enough to drink and use. It's the day you would make merit, make donation, do good things and feel good of what you do. Or easily just what all the Thai kids/teenagers love, go out and have fun and take the most advantage out of the night.

Many ways to make merit as a buddhist

Easiest one would be just sitting politely in front of the Buddha statue, put your hands together and chant. Thinking of good things that have happened or you want it to happen. Keep calm and do some meditation : Ring the bells and hit the gongs are somehow ones of the ways to do so..

Donation counts and you might even get a chance to write you name down on one of the things they would use to maintain or decorate the temple later on. Like, these golden leaves with names on them..

Here come the part, Loi Krathong Festival (ประเภณีลอยกระทง)!

Other things else is an add-on. The fest call Loi Krathong Festival (ประเภณีลอยกระทง) and we're here actually for that. Well, I mostly enjoy all the Thai street food but I was looking forward to doing this as well. 'Float a flower basket, be thankful, make a wish !'

I don't believe it completely but I feel good doing this. I love traditions.

At The Golden Mount Temple (วัดภูเขาทอง), instead of just float the normal banana leaves and flower basket, there's this alternative small little candle you could float in a big water tub the temple provided.

I went for the traditional way and somehow regret doing it. On the way back home, we walked along the Sansaeb canal and oh my, how much garbage we have been dumping in. I know there would be people cleaning it anyways. Another funny fact I also don't appreciate is how they collect the floated flower baskets and resell them.. Like, seriously.

Anyways, it's such a colourfully beautiful tradition and I love spending time among the golden lights in this dark night with its full moon.

Love it! With friends would be even more fun so if you're in Thailand or the nearby countries like, Laos, sure check this exotic tradition, Loi Krathong Festival (ประเภณีลอยกระทง) out. The Golden Mount Temple (วัดภูเขาทอง) is classic for it but it's been too intense with such a crowd these past years. If you don't mind that and how hot it would get in the winter, so many Thai temple fair activities ahead for you to enjoy.

You sure will fall in love <3

The Golden Mount Temple (วัดภูเขาทอง หรือ วัดสระเกศราชวรมหาวิหาร)
Address: 344 Thanon Chakkraphatdi Phong, Ban Bat, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100
Phone: 092 690 9222

Not on Steem yet?? Let the ninja gets you a Steem account and start earning crypto!

㋡ Get $55 off your first adventure on Airbnb
㋡ BEST Boba Tea in town [Bangkok].

---

All copy and photos are original content by me.

© waybeyondpadthai.com

                 

TO SUPPORT WITH LOVE 💙 PLEASE SUBSCRIBE!!! TO MY SUPER DUPER AWESOME YOUTUBE CHANNEL :)

---

View this post on TravelFeed for the best experience.