Northern Thailand’s lantern competition, Yi Peng, is perhaps essentially the most magical pageant on the planet. Not only is that this pageant enchanting, however it’s loaded with spiritual and cultural significance. Thus, it’s a good way for travelers to study more about Thailand’s wealthy culture and traditions.
If you’ve been dreaming about witnessing this mesmerising occasion with your individual eyes, here is everything you should know in regards to the competition.
Yi Peng (sometimes written as Yee Peng) is a standard Lanna competition that takes place in Northern Thailand. During the competition, participants launch paper lanterns known as khom loi into the sky. Hence, it’s generally called the Lantern Festival or the Festival of Light. The act of releasing the lantern symbolises letting go of unhealthy luck and misfortunes from the previous year and wishing for good fortunes in the coming year. Buddhists consider that when you make a wish while releasing the lantern, it will come true.
The lanterns are released at roughly the identical time in the night. The view of hundreds of lanterns ascending into the night time sky, with varied levels of brightness and speeds, is truly mesmerising. Because of this, the Yi Peng festival is commonly thought-about essentially the most magical competition in Thailand.
Although the highlight of the Yi Peng festival is the lanterns, there are other actions that occur as a part of the celebration. You can watch the official Yi Peng Parade, conventional Thai dance reveals, reside music, handicraft periods, fireworks, and firecrackers. Additionally, you can even find quite a few food distributors on the festival. Northern Thailand really involves life throughout Yi Peng. The towns are adorned with colourful hanging lanterns, and the entrances of temples are full of flowers. In addition, many people decorate their houses with lit candles as a way to make merit.
Yi Peng is widely known on the complete moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in November. In 2021, the festival will take place on Friday, November 19. It coincides with Loy Krathong Festival, and the two festivals are sometimes fused collectively. The primary occasion of each festivals occurs after dark.
Although most towns and cities throughout Northern Thailand celebrate Yi Peng, Chiang Mai is one of the best place to expertise this lovely pageant. The complete metropolis is stuffed with festive celebrations, from vibrant lanterns and candles lining the streets to parades and music.
If you need to take part a mass lantern release and get a spectacular photo-op, Mae Jo University is the most effective place to go. The mass launch normally occurs at 6.30pm, however you should arrive well upfront if you want to get an excellent spot. Besides the lantern release, you can usually take pleasure in cultural performances as well.
For those who need to actually immerse themselves in the pageant and luxuriate in it just like the locals, the best locations to go are the Three Kings Monument, Nawarat Bridge on the Ping River, and Thapae Gate. The majority of the religious actions often occur within the Three Kings Monument. These embody a candle-lighting ceremony and a Buddhist worship ritual. For festival parades, food vendors, and fireworks, Thapae Gate is the best place to be.
Since Yi Peng is commonly mixed with Loy Krathong in Northern Thailand, Nawarat Bridge on the Ping River is a good place to go if you want to watch a magical sight of lots of of lanterns floating within the sky and lotus-shaped baskets on the water.
If you don’t want to take part in the competition and would somewhat watch the lanterns drifting into the evening sky from afar, head to considered one of Chiang Mai’s rooftop bars.
Launching your very personal lantern into the evening sky is possibly essentially the most exciting a part of Yi Peng.
You can discover many vendors selling lanterns on the street on the day of the competition, so you don’t actually need to purchase lanterns in advance. It’s greatest to purchase larger lanterns as a result of they’re much easier to launch. A massive lantern often costs round 50 to one hundred baht. Also, make positive to select a lantern that is made from environmentally friendly materials, such as rice paper and bamboo. Be cautious when holding the lantern. Since the paper may be very thin, it can tear easily.
Lighting and launching a lantern by your self is quite tough, so it’s best that you’ve a lantern launch associate. If you’re travelling alone, it’s a good way to make new friends! Once you discover a partner, one person should hold the paper and the other mild the round block at the base of the lantern. After Forgotten mild it, make positive to maintain it tightly as scorching air will begin to fill the lantern, and it’ll begin to pull upwards. When your lantern begins to lift and pulls your arms, you possibly can gently release it into the evening sky. Make positive to let the lantern float naturally without pushing it. Don’t neglect to make a wish or hope for the longer term before you release it!
Yi Peng and Loy Krathong are often confused with one another as they’re very related and celebrated on the identical day. However, the two festivals are literally totally different. Loy Krathong is nicely known throughout Thailand. It entails floating baskets made of leaves, flowers, candles, and incense which would possibly be released right into a physique of water. One of the purposes of this competition is to pay respect to the water goddess and the Buddha.
Yi Peng, on the opposite hand, is a pageant unique to Northern Thailand. Because Yi Peng and Loy Krathong occur on the identical day, the two festivals are often celebrated collectively in Northern Thailand.
Since the lanterns can interfere with aeroplane’s flight paths, they’ll only be launched between 7pm and 1am on festival days. You also shouldn’t launch the lanterns anywhere you want, only in permitted lantern zones. Violating the principles can outcome in a fine and imprisonment.
Yi Peng is presumably the busiest time of 12 months in Chiang Mai. People from all all over the world flock into the city to experience the magical festival. Due to this reason, lodge rooms are usually in short supply. Therefore, if you want to go to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng, it’s greatest to guide your lodging early!
The lanterns launched during Yi Peng are manufactured from rice paper with a wooden or bamboo frame and wire to hold the combustible coil or candle. Remember, what goes up should come down. So after festivities finish, most of the lanterns end up in trees, the rivers, and on the ground, which might harm each the environment and surrounding communities. That’s why there are extra governmental restrictions concerning the discharge of lanterns. If you’re not Buddhist, it could be best to observe the beautiful ceremony without participating in it.
Bear in thoughts that Yi Peng is a spiritual competition. Therefore, be aware not to obstruct individuals from launching their lanterns and gown appropriately if you plan to go to a temple. Whether you’re observing or taking part within the pageant, it’s important to always be respectful..