Across many cultures, floating offerings on rivers is a common ritual practice. Items like flowers, incense, and candles are placed on buoyant objects—such as krathongs, rafts, or lotus blossoms—and released downstream. These ceremonies primarily serve as tributes to revered figures, including the Buddha, ancestors, various gods, or the Hindu water goddess, Ganga.

        Phraya Anuman Rajathon assumed that Loi Krathong was a tradition for agricultural communities who, reliant on water for their crops, would float offerings after a successful harvest to thank the water goddess for the resulting abundance.

Written, translated, by: Ratchanok T.

Illustrated by: กรุงเทพมหานคร