Yi Peng Lantern Festival Chiang Mai
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Yi Peng refers to full moon night of the 12th lunar month. The Yi Peng Lantern Festival, commonly known as Festival of Lights, is annually organized by the Chiang Mai Municipality.
Main aspect of the Yi Peng Lantern Festival is a lantern contest. Light and sound presentations, boat races, rafts competitions, etc are also commonplace during this fest. This is a great time to learn more about the rituals and culture of Chiang Mai. Traditional plays and cultural performances add color and exuberance to the Yi Peng Lantern Festival.
The most unusual ritual during the Yi Peng Lantern Festival is launching of Lanna-style hot air 'lantern balloons'. In Chiang Mai, traditional beliefs say that with the floating of these huge hot air balloons, the troubles of the person launching it also go away. Thus, it is a ceremony that helps you do away with problems.
The banana leaf boat contest, known as 'krathong', is held on full moon night of the Yi Peng Lantern Festival. Held at various temples around the city, this ceremony is mainly organized by the Youth Club. After the contest, these krathongs are floated in the Ping River.
The final night of Yi Peng Lantern Festival is most special. On this day, a procession of 'Krathong Yai' (huge krathong floats) is held on Chiang Mai's streets. These floats are beautifully decorated, with depictions from life and times of Lord Buddha, Thai art, history and literature.
During the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, streets of Chiang Mai look spectacular, with houses, shops, moats, canals and River Ping decorated with lights and lanterns.
These festivities, people's spirit of participation, and enthusiasm beguile tourists who come happen to be in Chiang Mai during the Yi Peng Lantern Festival.
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