Bangkok —
At 9:00 PM on November 15th, 2024, Deputy Bangkok Governor Chatree Watthanakhet joined officials to monitor and encourage teams collecting krathong floats on the Chao Phraya River during the Loy Krathong Festival.
This year, over 140 locations across Bangkok hosted Loy Krathong events, blending tradition with modern eco-conscious practices.
Major festivities included the Bangkok Loy Krathong Festival at Khlong Khu Mueang and the “Charming Four Regions” celebration at Khlong Prem Prachakorn. Additionally, 34 public parks remained open late, allowing visitors to float eco-friendly krathongs until midnight.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) strongly urged the public to avoid bread and foam krathongs, citing severe environmental impacts, including oxygen depletion in water bodies and harm to aquatic ecosystems. Families and groups were encouraged to share one krathong per group to reduce waste.
The BMA deployed 185 personnel, 40 boats, and 13 vehicles to clean up krathongs across the city. Efforts focused on separating natural krathongs for composting and non-biodegradable ones for disposal.
Key cleanup sites along the Chao Phraya River spanned 15 kilometers from Rama VIII Bridge to Rama IX Bridge.
The eco-conscious efforts marked a step towards preserving both the tradition and the environment. Cleanup operations ran until 5:00 AM on November 16th, ensuring waterways were clear of waste.
