Festivals play an important role in the social and cultural life of Thai people.  The Thais look forward to and celebrate festivals through the collective efforts of the community for merit and fun, which are typical Thai values.  One of the famous traditional festivals handed down is known as Loy Krathong The origin of Loy Krathong Festival can be traced.  Primarily, it is no doubt a yearly offering to the water spirit or the floating away to the depths of all sins and calamities. Secondly, it is in a sense a thanksgiving to the Goddess of Water.  It is probably confined to agricultural people who rely on the abundance of water as a source of economic life.  Thirdly, it is a pastime for spending an evening outdoors amidst pleasant surroundings.
Loy Krathong Festival undoubtedly reflects the gratitude the Thais pay to water as a precious resource of life in an agricultural society. It is also to pay gratitude to Lord Buddha as Krathong is floated to worship His footprint and His topknot. Besides, Krathong is floated to worship the ancestors spirits as a manifestation of paying gratitude to the ancestors. No matter how different the beliefs are, the common value of Loy Krathong Festival is gratitude. The true value derived from Loy Krathong is actually shown in the spirit of environmental awareness. It makes Loy Krathong day more meaningful to the people, reviving the old values which have been the basis of Thai society. On the other hand, Loy Krathong Festival serves as a means to convey important message on security and safety warnings in the modern context.  
Loy Krathong Festival is currently celebrated all over the country.  From dawn to midnight, Loy Krathong song is played with the joyous tuneful Thai melody. There is something special about the song that is deserving notice. It proves that the festival of Loy Krathong with the true characteristics of music, dance and merry making is an integral part of Thai life. The Ramwong dance with an infectious beat, joined by young and old alike adds to general high spirits of Loy Krathong .The lyrics and tune of Loy Krathong song were composed spontaneously on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month on the bank of Chao Phya river in 1952 by  Keo Achariyakul, a great song composer and Ua Sunthornsanan, the founder and leader of Suntaraporn Band of the Public Relations Department. The English version of Loy Krathong song is as follows:

November fullmoon shines,
Loy Krathong, Loy Krathong,
and the water's high
in the river and local Klong,
Loy Loy Krathong, Loy Loy Krathong,
Loy Krathong is here and everybody's full of cheer,

We're together at the Klong,
We're together at the Klong,
Each one with this Krathong,
As we push away we pray,
We can see a better day.

On the occasion of Loy Krathong Festival 2009, the Minister of Culture wishes to invite all the Thais and friends of Thailand to float Krathong together and pray for the good health of His Majesty the King. “LONG LIVE THE KING”