Buzz
Traveling to Chiang Mai in November this year, you have the opportunity to witness one of the world's most beautiful spectacles, as voted by Lonely Planet, with the sky and water aglow with thousands of lanterns during the Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai.
November in Chiang Mai: Where Dreams Come True
Yi Peng or Loy Krathong?
These are two names often confused by travelers when seeking information about Chiang Mai's lantern festival. Although both translate to the lantern festival, they are two entirely different festivals.
Loy Krathong, when translated literally, means 'float a basket,' with 'Krathong' referring to a lotus-shaped vessel. This festival is of Buddhist origin and is usually held on the 15th day of the 12th lunar month in the Thai calendar. On this day, locals decorate lotus-shaped vessels with fresh flowers, candles, and incense before releasing them onto the river as a gesture of respect to the Buddha. It is believed that by floating these vessels, all the worries and misfortunes of the past year will be washed away.
Yi Peng (or Yee Peng), meanwhile, stands as an ancient festival of immense cultural significance to the Lanna people in Northern Thailand. Given that Chiang Mai was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Yi Peng remains the city's grandest celebration, conducted with utmost reverence. However, due to the overlapping dates and similar holiday customs between Yi Peng and Loy Krathong, these two festivals are often mistaken for each other.
On the day of the Yi Peng festival, you'll witness one of the most splendid scenes, perhaps unmatched by any other festival. As the rituals conclude, hundreds, even thousands of lanterns are released into the sky, symbolizing the devotees' reverence to the Buddha. This is when a magical panorama unfolds, with warm candlelight shimmering amidst the velvety night sky like twinkling stars, creating an unforgettable spectacle. Surely, witnessing such breathtaking beauty just once will leave an indelible mark on your memory.
This year, both the Yi Peng and Loy Krathong festivals will be held on November 24th, 25th, and 26th, 2015. For detailed festival schedules, you can refer to the timetable provided by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Vietnam.
Key Points to Note When Attending the Lantern Festival
• If you plan to participate in the festivities, it's advisable to book your accommodation and tickets early. Prices may surge significantly if you book too close to the event date.
• The rear grounds of Mae Jo University are renowned as a hotspot for releasing sky lanterns in Chiang Mai. This area, also known as Lanna Dhutanka, becomes extremely crowded during the festival. Therefore, if you want to secure a good spot, it's best to arrive around 4 PM.
• Typically, before entering the gate, you'll encounter numerous vendors selling sky lanterns. However, it's crucial to note that the organizers do not permit the use of these lanterns. The primary reason is that they are mostly made of non-biodegradable materials, posing challenges for area cleaning after the festival. It's best to purchase sky lanterns sold within the festival area. They are usually affordable, priced at around 100 Baht per lantern. You don't necessarily need to buy one lantern per person. Even a group of friends can suffice with just one sky lantern.
• It's advisable to dress modestly when participating in the festival as it remains a day of profound reverence for the Thai people.
• Lastly, avoid getting too absorbed in taking photos. Of course, nobody prohibits capturing the magical moments of this festival. However, it would be a waste if you couldn't spare some time to fully enjoy these wonderful moments.
San San (Compiled from: Tourism Authority of Thailand/Vemaybay.vn)
***
Reference: Travel guide Mytour
TravelGuides.comOctober 15, 2015
