Ah, the vibrant heart of Thailand pulsated with an even greater fervor during this year’s Loy Krathong festival, which cast a mesmerizing glow upon the canals of Bangkok. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Environment Department, vigilant in their tallies, noted a remarkable 11% escalation in the number of krathongs delicately set afloat by the capital’s denizens—a leap from 572,602 the previous year.
With nearly every one of these floating beauties—618,951 to be precise—crafted from materials graciously lent by Mother Nature herself, an unmistakable wave of environmental awakening seems to have swept across the city. Compare that to a mere 20,877 foam-based contestants bobbing amidst the more eco-friendly throng.
The numbers painted a green-tinted picture: a whopping 96.74% of this year’s krathongs were biodegradable, a modest yet meaningful increase from last year’s 95.7%. Conversely, those notorious foam interlopers constituted a declining 3.26%, dwarfed by last year’s 4.3%.
Where did the denizens of Bangkok choose to pay homage to the water goddess? The Khlong Sam Wa district emerged as the crowd favorite, witnessing the serene launching of 31,575 krathongs. On the flip side, Pom Prap Sattru Phai proved to be a less popular spot, hosting a mere 160 such rituals.
And if we were to award gold medals for eco-consciousness, Khlong Sam Wa district would take the top spot with a landslide 31,560 biodegradable offerings. Bueng Kum district, however, experienced a foam fiasco with 1,579 foam krathongs—the highest in the city.
This celebratory Monday, falling on November 27, illuminated the night as Thais indulged in the enchanting Loy Krathong festival. This tradition, steeped in spirituality, revolves around the release of krathongs into the waterways, in thanks to the water goddess on the 12th full moon of the lunar calendar.
The BMA, ever vigilant, worked tirelessly from dusk till dawn—from 8pm right up until 5am—to ensure these symbolic vessels did not throttle the lifelines of the city’s drainage system. Their noble plan? To transform these krathongs turned in by the tides into fertile promise for the soil.
In tandem with the nature-friendly shift of this festival, citizens arrived in flocks, with as many as 290,886 revelers descending upon Bangkok’s 34 lush public parks. As for the most sought-after spots for this moonlit rendezvous? The crowns go to Benchasiri, Lumphini, and Benjakitti parks, respectively. What a sight to behold, as thousands of candles reflected off the tranquil waters, a testament to the enduring allure of one of Thailand’s most cherished festivals.
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