The purposes of this research were: 1) to study  history of Loy Krathong Tradition,        2) to study values ​​and Dhamma principles of the Loy Krathong Tradition in the perspective of Theravada Buddhism, and 3) to analyze values of the Loy KrathongTradition towards Thai society. This research focused on studying documents from Tripitaka, Atthakatha, Tika, textbook documents and related researches to summarize the data.

Results of the Research

1.             The history of evidences in Punnasuttara was mentioned that one of the important rivers in Buddha period was the historical evidence that the Buddha taught king of Nagas until believing in Teachings of Buddha and requesting something to be the symbol of worship by having Pagodas or Footprints that the Buddhist assemblies worship the Buddha. This was the origin of the Loy Krathong Tradition. In Thailand, This tradition occurred in Sukhothai period. It was called       “the floating lanterns” which King Ramkhamhaeng’ first concubine modified in the lotus instead of floating lanterns. This was the origin of the Loy Krathong forms that had the different appearances and were inherited continuously until the present.

2.             The values of the Loy Krathong Tradition that people inherited since the past into the present concerned belifes in Buddhism: having Dhamma is the practice frame for fostering consciousness of people in the Nation to be in unity and conduct according to Saraniyadhamma,       the five Balas, and the four Sangahavatthus. It showed that conducting according to all Dhamma priniciples equalized that people in the Nation had the consciousness, gratitude, jealousy of traditional customs in the national, local, community and family level and realized the value of environmental preservation that reflected to the culture in the world level.

3.             From the analysis, the values of the Loy Krathong Tradition towards Thai society have the important goal, that is, worship the obligation of the Buddha making from the conscience of people in Thai society as the Buddhists. The Buddhists must have the gratitude (1) to people: fathers, mothers and teachers, (2) to animals having the obligation to them and helping their working, and     (3) to things having the obligation. All three values are classified into the two Pujas: Amisa Puja and Patipati Puja by having Pancasila as the frame for the practice to make the unity, hold together and live in the harmony of people in the nation.

In summary, the values of the Loy Krathong Tradition make the unity in local or community level and are the good models for the society in leading into the practice to make the peace and liberty of the nation in progress by Pancasila that is the important law in Buddhism or the rule of the Buddhists for persisting in the practice, exception of extorting each other in the part concerning the human. The environment has the balance; however, the human must undertake together to protect and preserve the complete environment, not especially concerning the Loy Krathong Tradition. The other activities must mainly realize the safe of people and lead into the sustainable country development.