Buddhist Temple of Dallas Passes Down Thai Culture with 2025 Loy Krathong Festival
Written by Natalie Haruka | November 14, 2025
Photos by Natalie Hakura
Head to bumper, cars lined the street leading up to the Dallas Buddhist Temple on Sunday, Nov. 9. Entering the temple grounds, the sweet smoke of skewered meats accompanied the lively chatter dancing in the air.
The Loy Krathong Festival was taking place - in a city thousands of miles away from the origin - the traditional Thai festival garnered the enthusiasm and celebration from the DFW community.
Traditionally, the Loy Krathong Festival is celebrated on the on the evening of the full moon of the 12th lunar month. Small rafts, krathongs, made from natural material such as banana leaves decorated with candles, flowers and incense are floated down a river - an act to honor the water goddess and let go of the past year’s misfortunes.
Photos by Natalie Hakura
Festivities such as traditional dances, music, and beauty pageants with dazzling Thai clothing take place all over Thailand on this day.
Across the seas, the Dallas Buddhist Temple’s main pond was dotted with the pinks, blues and oranges of makeshift krathongs with disposable plates. Traditional instruments were laid out and played by both young and old members of the DFW Thai community. Girls dressed in bright blues, pinks, adorned with flashing gold twirled, showing off their traditional wear at the pageant.
Photos by Natalie Hakura
“In Thailand, its usually made with banana leaves, natural stuff, not plastic, so it can be floated along the river - here, we can just pick it up and throw it away,” The MC of the event smiles.
Traditions of the festival, despite the distance, are adapted to honor the celebration.
The Dallas Buddhist Temple opened in 1982, not only to create a space for worship, but also to preserve and pass on Thai culture to youth in Dallas.
Every week, the temple opens itself for Sunday School, and volunteer teachers pass on Thai language, dance and music.
“They’re [the kids performing] American, but we want them to know where they come from. We want them to know the roots of their language, music, and the beautiful Thai culture that's been around for thousands of years” The MC announces.
Gathered around the pavilion, grandparents laugh as kids make wishes to pass into the krathongs, friends share Thai street food, and young performers end their routines with a sheepish but proud grin.
In a city far away from the riverbanks of Thailand, the festival continues each year, serving as a reminder that culture isn’t bound to a place, but carried with those who keep it alive.
