Travel to Chiang Mai in November to Join a Fairy Colorful Lanterns Festival
Yi Peng or Loy Krathong?
People is joining the festival, wishing for the good lucks with their lighting lotus - Photo: Aung
These two names always cause plenty of confusion. This is because both mean lanterns festival. However the mass lanterns are released at Loy Krathong festival is not as same as the Yi Peng Festival.
Floating colorful lanterns on water - Photo: gian_tg
Loy Krathong
In Thai language, Loy Krathong means the decorative float. This is a celebration of lights all arounh Thailand. The lotus-shaped rafts will be released on water, which looks like a river of lighting lotus.
Lighting river during the Loy Kathrong
It is adopted by Buddhists as a ceremony to honor the Prince Siddhartha Gautama—the Buddha. It will takes place on 15th of December each year, based on Thai lunar calender.
Anyone can join the festival to let go of the bad luck, sins or worries will float far away
Thai people make the first Kathrong out of banana leaves in the shape of a lotus flower and float it with candles, incense stick into rivers to show respect to Buddha. Thai people believe that by releasing the Khom Loy, their bad luck and worries will be sent away.
Yi Peng
Just like a fairy tales
Yi Peng is another celebration, happening near the northern Thai town of Chiang Mai because that was once the ancient Lanna kingdom. Therefore Yi Peng has become the biggest celebration in Chiang Mai with many events such as fireworks, decorations in the old city, dance, Yi Peng parade… People mix up between Yi pend and the national celebration Loy Kathrong because those are held at the same time.
Several thousand people attend the largest release of lantern
The Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai was one of the most spectacular sights that are rarely duplicated elsewhere in the world. It is celebrated by releasing ignited lanternsinto the night sky all at once to pay the utmost homage to Buddha. This festival is an event reminiscent of scenes from fairytale. These lanterns look like stars, lighting up the dark sky. The sky transforms itself in a wonderful sea of lanterns floating away. You will never forget these mesmerizing, life-enhancing moments.
Thousands of lighted lanterns in the sky - Photo: visitkhaolak.com
In this year of 2015, the 3 dayYi Peng lantern festival and Loy Krathong celebrations in Chiang Mai will be held on 24th, 25th, and 26th of November, 2015.
HANI (whereto.vn)
From ivivu.com
