Bangkokians in favour of more eco-friendly Loy Krathong celebrations: survey
The majority of Bangkokians consider Loy Krathong an important festival, a recent poll revealed, while almost all of the respondents want to see more campaigns on eco-friendly krathong.
This year’s Loy Krathong Festival falls on Tuesday (November 8). Dubbed Thailand’s festival of lights, Loy Krathong Festival is marked by people releasing small, decorated floats called krathong into waterbodies to honour the water goddess on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month.
A Bansomdej Poll survey by Bansomdej Chaopraya Rajabhat University, conducted from October 27 to Novemer 2 among 1,229 Bangkok residents, found that 62.7 per cent of respondents think Loy Krathong is an important tradition and know its meaning, while 75.7% know that it falls on November 8 this year.
However, only 48.1% said they would go out to float their krathong on Tuesday night. Of those who planned to go out, 36.1% will go with family, 25.5% with their lovers/boyfriends and girlfriends, 17.2% with their friends, and 21.2% are not sure yet.
Some 43.8% of those who planned to float their krathong will go to Loy Krathong sites organised by the city, which include public piers and parks; 12.9% will visit events hosted by private organisers/businesses; 7.4% will launch the floats at waterbodies near their homes, while the rest have yet to make up their minds.
When asked about their opinion about this year’s festival organisation, 93.3% of respondents said the government should roll out more campaigns promoting the use of eco-friendly krathong – ones made of natural or biodegradable materials.
Meanwhile, 91.3% believe that Loy Krathong would add more waste to canals and rivers, a problem that must be handled efficiently by related authorities, while 75.3% said they were aware that lighting fireworks and releasing lanterns in the air are banned in Bangkok on Loy Krathong night.
