Can’t release sky lanterns in Singapore? Plan the ultimate trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand for the breathtaking Yi Peng Lantern Festival, just a short 3-hour flight from Singapore. Discover the cultural significance, best viewing spots, and why this festival is a must-see.
This year, the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Festival will be held on November 15-16th, 2024.
What is Chiang Mai’s Yi Peng Festival about?
Each year, as the full moon of the twelfth Thai lunar month glows above the historic city of Chiang Mai, a sea of light floats gently into the sky. This extraordinary festivity, known as the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, is not only a spectacle for the eyes but also a sacred event marked by cultural significance and spiritual rejuvenation.
The joyous festival is widely celebrated in northern Thailand, with the biggest celebrations taking place in Chiang Mai. Yi Peng also coincides with the nationally celebrated Loy Krathong, also known as the Thai Festival of Lights and Lanterns, where the locals take to the waters to release small, illuminated boat offerings made of banana stalks and leaves.
Yi Peng, translating to “second month” in the Lanna dialect, is a tradition steeped in the ancient Lanna culture of Northern Thailand. Celebrated for centuries, the festival is an act of homage to the Buddha.
With thousands of illuminated lanterns rising into the night, it is symbolic of releasing misfortunes and making wishes for the future. It represents a purifying release as well as calling forth blessings.
Tangled in Reality: The Enchanting Lantern Release
Without a doubt, the highlight of the festival is the paper lantern release ceremony. Watch thousands of these lanterns ascend peacefully into the night sky. These crafted paper lanterns, or ‘khom loi’ symbolise a prayer, dream, or wish as you send them skyward, creating a mesmerising sight just like the Disney movie ‘Tangled’.
Adding depth to the festival’s enchanting moment is the opportunity for spiritual reflection. Yi Peng is a time for ‘making merit’ in Buddhism. The act of giving alms to monks during this period carries profound meaning, reinforcing a sense of community and shared blessings.
How to take part in the Yi Peng Lantern Festival 2024?
There will be plenty of activities taking place, all around the city, mainly at the Three Kings Monument and at Tha Pae Gate.
You can see lanterns released all over the city, particularly around temples, and many locals participate for free. But of course, the atmosphere isn’t as spectacular compared to the ticketed event for Mass Lantern Releases in designated areas, for instance, the CAD Chiang Mai Yi Peng Festival, which usually sees thousands of lanterns being released into the sky simultaneously with fireworks. This also means that large crowd will be expected and you definitely need to plan ahead.
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Alternatively, you can find accommodations and rooftop bars along Nawarat Bridge and the Ping River which offer a great vantage point to simply admire the night sky. Ban Narai River Guesthouse sits next to Nawarat Bridge, or enjoy riverside dining at spots like The Good View Village Restaurant!
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