Loi Krathong in Northern Lanna

The ritual of launching Lanna-style floating lanterns (known locally as khome loi or khome yipeng)) is a unique aspect of the Chiang Mai Loi Krathong festival. Lanna people believe that when these huge lanterns are released to the air, so are the troubles of the residents in the community.

‘Yipeng’ literally means the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month. The Chiang Mai ‘Yipeng’ and ‘Loi Krathong’, the Festival of Lights is organised annually by the Chiang Mai Municipality. During the festival, the entire Chiang Mai city - houses, streets, canals, moats and the river - is decorated with lights and beautiful lanterns, a spectacular scenes not be missed by visitors.

Even though Chiang Mai people like to set the lanterns into the air, the water-bourn krathongs are also popular in this northern region of Thailand. While traditional krathong were made exclusively from banana leaves, today the krathong come in all shapes and sizes and are made from a broad range of materials. The krathong are set afloat on the Mae Ping River.

On the final night of the celebration, a procession of spectacular “Krathong Yai” or giant krathong floats will wing their way through the streets of the northern capital. The giant krathong feature elaborate decorations depicting the story of Lord Buddha’s, Thai literature, history and Thai art.

Many other activities of interest will also be organised ranging from Krathong contests, Lanna Thai cultural presentations and folk performances, bamboo raft races and boat races on the Mae Ping River and fireworks.