The Mind-Blowing Light Parade In Lantern Festival In Chiang Mai

Emerged in the enchanting atmosphere where thousands of sky lanterns are released onto the sky is the most spectacular moment I can have in my entire life. That’s why hordes of tourists, like me, flock to Chiang Mai every November to celebrate the most dazzling festival of lanterns. Once you get there, your heart will be taken by the hospitality of the locals, the ultimate charm of Chiang Mai nature, and the alluring moments of the lantern festival.

The Uniqueness Of Chiang Mai Lantern Festival

In Asian countries, you can quickly come across a myriad of lantern festivals, for example, in Hoi An, Vietnam, in Taiwan, in Sri Lanka. But nothing is the same, and from the perspective of the one who has experienced quite a lot of lantern festival, Chiang Mai lantern festival is the most impressive. The festival in Chiang Mai combines two events. Drifting floating lanterns on Peng River (Loy Krathong) and releasing sky lanterns (Yi Peng).

At a particular time of the year, Peng River in Chiang Mai reaches the full capacity while the moon is at its fullest. It’s time for Thai people and the international tourists alike to make merit. Though these two events used to be a part of a religious ritual, people in this day and age celebrate them together beyond the realm of cultures.

Loy Krathong refers to the floating lantern festival in Peng River. The distinctive feature lies in the lantern. During Loy Krathong, local peoples use banana leaves to create small baskets. They then decorate the miniature boats with colorful flowers and put candles and some incense sticks in the middle. Some people do release Krathong (banana leaf boats) with pocket money as an offering to their ancestors and the river spirits.

If Loy Krathong is celebrated in many towns and city, the incredible Yi Peng only takes place in Chiang Mai. The sky lantern of Yi Peng is a thin layer of fabric stretching over a slight bamboo frame. When the candle inside is lit, the lantern will drift into the sky. It is said to bring away ills, misfortunes, and sins. Locations for releasing a sky lantern during Yi Peng are super limited for the sake of safety. The most important place is on the Mae Jo university where up to 4000 sky lanterns are let go at the same moment.

Loy Krathong, in tandem with Yi Peng creates the biggest lantern festival in Asia, withdraw the attention and the excitement of the audience from all over the world. To facilitate the ultimate traveling experience for the guests, Chiang Mai authority also organizes a wide selection of folk music performances and traditional artform demonstrations to accompany the festival.

Where The Greatest Light Parade All Started

In the Thai language, “Loy” can be literally translated into “float.” Krathong, on the other hand, has several meanings, but it is used to refer to the banana leaf containers which are made during Loy Krathong. The festival is supposed to make its first launch since Sukhothai Kingdom (1238-1438). It was a ritual to honor Gautama, the most magnificent Buddha in Thailand. The candle venerates the Buddha with light. The Krathong floating away represents letting go of all hatred, evils, and anger. With a view to get rid of negative thoughts and past transgressions, people place the clippings after cutting fingernails or hair on the Krathong. Loy Krathong is also a festival to express profound gratitude to the Goddess of Water, the Hindu Goddess Ganga, Phra Mae Khongkha.

Yi Peng derived its traditions from Brahmanic origins in Hinduism as well as Buddhism in Thailand. During the regime of King Rama IV (1851-1868), the use of lights and lanterns were co-opted as a means of honoring the Great Buddha. Drifting sky lantern or Khom Loi in the Thai language is also a way for the people to release the misfortune and suffering that they had been holding over the previous year. As Chiang Mai was the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdom, it is an ideal place to observe the ancient practice of both Yi Peng and Loy Krathong.  

How To Enjoy Chiang Mai Lantern Festival To The Utmost

Chiang Mai Lantern Festival happens on the full moon night of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar. Ít’s not the same as the Gregorian calendar used in most Western countries. So if you don’t want to miss the light parade in Chiang Mai, it’s better off following some local travel agents. They will give you the exact date and time for the event. Normally, Chiang Mai lantern festival falls on November according to the Gregorian calendar. The due date for 2019 events is from 11th to 13th November. 

Two central locations for you to drift the sky lanterns with massive numbers is Mae Jo University and Nawarat bridge. In particular, Mae Jo sky lantern release is the largest with more than 4,000 lantern to be let go at once. This is an annual ceremony organized by Duangtawan Santiparp Foundation in association with Tudongkasantan. Ticket prices for a single entry in Mae Jo are, as a result, also very expensive, usually around 5,500-12,000 baht per capita (approximately $170 - $380). Also, you need to book in advance for at least three months to avoid tickets sold out. If you are not willing to pay that much for witnessing the festival, you should go to Nawarat bridge. Here you need to pay for the Khom Loi, which is around two bucks only. Before the collective releasing, you can buy a Krathong and send your wishes to the river.