Loy Krathong // Yi Peng Festival

Yi Peng Festival and Loy Krathong are the most visually intriguing festivals in Thailand. Last year, we were able to experience Loy Krathong in the South and it was beautiful. I remember driving to the center of town, with a slight drizzle hitting me, looking up and seeing flickering lanterns floating up into the sky. I was excited for this year in Chiang Mai, because it is the biggest festival in this city. It draws thousands of people to the town in November, which can be aggravating when tourists fill up your favorite restaurants and take over the roads with their terrible driving, but I now understand why so many people come to experience this festival.

Yi Peng and Loy Krathong, although celebrated around the same time each year, are two different holidays. Yi Peng is a northern Thai festival, where the famous paper lanterns are released into the sky to pay homage to Buddha. The largest Yi Peng ceremony is held at Maejo University, a nearby agricultural school.

Last Saturday, we drove out to the university, hours before the ceremony began, to get the perfect seats. Once we arrived, many people had already had the same idea. We meandered through the crowds, found some friends and sat with anticipation of releasing our lanterns.

After hours of waiting, the ceremony began. Because it is a Buddhist ceremony, there was meditation and chanting by the monks who surrounded the front of the ceremony grounds. It was gorgeous, intriguing, and peaceful to hear the monks.

After the meditations and chants, it was time to release the lanterns. Everyone was to release their lantern at the same time. It was the most magical thing I have ever seen; thousands and thousands of lanterns floating up right above you. It took my breath away and haunted my body with chills from head to toe. This is something you have to experience in person. The pictures don't do the experience any justice. I am so thankful that I live in this city and was able to experience one of the most beautiful ceremonies first hand.

Loy Krathong was celebrated the following couple of nights after Yi Peng. Most of the festivities occured in the old city, which is where I live. So it was perfect to walk out of my place and instantly be right in the middle of the action.

Loy Krathong, means "Floating Crown" or "Floating Decoration". On the night of the full moon, Thais send decorative floats, usually made from banana leafs and lotus flowers with incense and candles, down the river with a wish. Sometimes they put coins in the Krathongs as an offering to the river spirits.

As we made our way to the river to send our wishes, we passed by a parade with elaborately dressed girls on floats. We walked by a temple, where the sound of drums was making its way onto the street. We decided to take a peek inside the temple. There we found monks sending off lanterns and tea lights flickering around the edges of the pagoda, making for a magical atmosphere.

Back out on the streets Thais and tourist were blasting off any kind of fireworks that they could get their hands on-- seriously last weekend sounded like a war zone. Fireworks going off everywhere! We made our way to the river, avoiding being hit by fireworks.

We found the perfect stand to purchase a Krathong. We lit the incense and found a small spot to squeeze by the river. We made our wishes and watched our Krathong float slowly down the river along with the thousands of other wishes.

Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are focused on clearing out the old and beginning anew. If you ever find yourself in Thailand, November is the time to come. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng are the epitome of the beauty of Thai culture and tradition.