The Ultimate Guide to The Thailand Lantern Festival (Yi Peng Festival)

August 20, 2017

During the Thailand Lantern Festival, thousands of glowing sky lanterns are released into the air – where they float through the sky like large swarms of fluorescent jellyfish. If you have seen Disney’s “Tangled”, it’s somewhat like the scene where Rapunzel and Flynn Rider sing “I See the Light.” It’s a truly spectacular sight that will give you goosebumps and fill you with awe.

This fantastic festival is an incredible opportunity to soak up Thailand’s culture and faith and celebrate tradition. There are actually two different events happening simultaneously. The Yi Peng Festival involves releasing lanterns into the sky and the Loi Krathong festival involves launching floating lanterns into the river. The Yi Peng Festival occurs only in Chiang Mai while the Loi Krathong Festival occurs all throughout Thailand.

If you are traveling to Thailand – this stunning festival should absolutely be on your bucket list. Having the opportunity to take part in both of these spectacular festivals is a true delight when traveling in Thailand.

Release sky lantern in Thailand Lantern Festival

What Will Happen During the Thailand Lantern Festival?

While both Yi Peng and Loi Krathong in Thailand Lantern Festival focus on lights, the main difference is that Yi Peng is all about lanterns in the sky while Loi Krathong is all about boats in the river. Also, Loi Krathong only lasts for one night on the full moon while the Yi Peng Festival is celebrated over the course of three days.

You will see the river lit up with thousands of floating baskets and the sky lit up with floating lanterns. People will be gathered on the Nawarat Bridge, sending the lanterns into the air. There are also many other activities taking place, including parades of light, regatta contests, and live music. There will also be lots of street food carts around, so you will have a chance to sample some delicious local Thai snacks.

History and Cultural Significance

The Thailand lantern festival is a Buddhist tradition. The name Yi Peng describes when the festival occurs – Yi means “2^nd” and Peng means “month.” The name of the Loi Krathong festival is thought to mean “to float a basket.”

The act of releasing the lanterns into the air is done to show respect for Buddha. Launching the floating Krathongs (floating lanterns) into the river is an ancient ritual that pays respect to the spirits of the water.

It was thought that Loi Krathong began in the Sukhothai by a court lady who was called Noppharat. However, it is now known that this story comes from a poem that was written in the early Bangkok period. King Rama IV wrote about the festival in 1863, stating that it was a Brahmanical festival that was embraced by Thai Buddhists as a way of honoring the Buddha.

Since the early days, this festival has evolved to include musical concerts, beauty pageants, and parties. Keep in mind that this is a calm and meaningful spiritual festival. It is not about drinking and partying – so although it is acceptable to have a beer it is a good idea to keep the crazy partying to a minimum.

In old times, the ceremony would start in the evening with prayers chanted. Lanterns would be left burning outside until early in the next morning when monks make alms. The candles used were made from a special wax prepared by the Brahmin priesthood through a well-kept ceremony.

It was common for these lantern decorations to be found hanging in auspicious residences belonging to Thai royalty. The number and intricacy of the lanterns reflected on the status of the family members. Because of this, there were several classifications of lanterns at that time.

As the tradition developed, adherents would spend their time and creativity into designing the most beautiful, elaborate, and structurally sound lanterns. They would then donate these lanterns to the temples asking the monks to pray on their behalf for a certain blessing or wish. A common prayer given was for intelligence and wisdom to be bestowed on the prayer. It was believed that the lantern would lead them out of a dark past and into a bright future.

Northern Thailand has a deep and rich history in lanterns. The kind of lantern used during the Yi Peng Festival is referred to as “Kome Loy”. It is believed that when someone sends this lantern into the air, they will cast their mistakes and bad fortune away as well. For this reason, it is common to say a prayer prior to sending your lantern afloat – that your flaws and bad luck take flight with the lantern far away into the sky.

Floating lantern in Wat Phan Tao Temple, Chiangmai,Thailand

When Is the Thailand Lantern Festival in 2017? 

The festival takes place on the evening of the full moon, during the 12^th month in the traditional Thai Lunar calendar. This usually coincides with November in the western calendar.

The 2017 festival will be taking place from Wednesday, November 3rd to Saturday, November 5th, 2017.

Where Is It?

The Yi Peng Festival only occurs in Chiang Mai while the Loi Krathong Festival takes place all throughout the country of Thailand. During the Yi Peng Festival, you will see views of thousands of lanterns being released into the sky throughout the evening – a truly spectacular sight.

Bangkok is also a great place to celebrate the Loi Krathong Festival. The Chao Phraya River will be the main area of celebration and the buildings and bridges along it will be decorated with bright lights as small boats with candles are released along the shores.

The lantern releases take place all throughout Chiang Mai with many public and private releases occurring simultaneously. The Thai authorities regulate the release date so that floating lanterns do not interfere with air traffic.

In recent years, there have been heavily advertised private events which are primarily targeted to tourists and have become somewhat commercial. Some participants have felt that these events are pulling away from the Thai tradition and have commented how few, if any, Thais actually participate in these. While others have claimed these events are NOT the authentic Yi Peng festival but simply private parties.

One such popular private event takes place at Mae Jo University in a small town outside of Chiang Mai, which is called the “Mass Release Event”. This event has received both criticism and praise. However, whether you enjoy the festival at a private event or at a traditional venue, you will most certainly leave with fond memories and wonderful photos.

Note from Luxe Voyage Asia: Our Thailand Lantern Festival tours are arranged to bring participants near the Nawarat Bridge in Chiang Mai on the Mae Ping River for travelers to experience the authentic traditional festival free from gimmicks and alongside thousands of Thai locals.

What Are the Lanterns? What Do They Mean?

A sky lantern is essentially a small hot air balloon made from rice paper. It has a small wire construction at the bottom where the candle is affixed. When the candle is lit, the fire generates hot air which is lighter than the cold air around the lantern. This lifts up the paper lantern and causes it to float through the air.

When you let go of your lantern and release it into the sky, you are wishing away all of your problems and bad luck. This gesture is a symbol of new beginnings. Couples who release a lantern together will sometimes wish for a happy marriage and a long life together.

Releasing the floating boats in the river has a similar meaning. The light glowing from the candle venerates the Buddha, while the floating of the Krathong on the water symbolizes letting go of anger, resentment, hatred and other negative emotions. It is considered particularly lucky if your Krathong disappears from sight before the candle goes out.

Some people even cut their hair and fingernails and place the clippings on the Krathong, which symbolizes letting go of the past. Also, when releasing a Krathong, some Thais will thank the Hindu Goddess Ganga – the goddess of water.

Many Thais will include coins in their krathongs, as a way of giving an offering to Buddha or the water spirits. (However, sometimes people will dive into the river after the celebration to retrieve the coins!)

What’s the best technique for launching a lantern?

What’s the best technique for launching a lantern? Here are the steps to follow:

• Have one person hold the lantern open.
• Burn at least four points on the ring mat found inside.
• Once most of the mat is on fire, hold the base of the lantern and wait until it fills with smoke.
• Hold the lantern near the ground for a minute or so to allow the hot air to build inside.
• Say a prayer and release!

Launching a sky lantern in the lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Eco-Friendly Lanterns

Although the lanterns are beautiful, when they are made from the wrong materials they can be damaging to the environment. On the day after Loi Krathong, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has the task of cleaning several tonnes of rubbish from the waterways of the city. The flying lanterns can get caught in trees and can cause a lot of harm to local animals.

For this reason, you will need to purchase an authorized lantern. As of 2017, Styrofoam lanterns are not allowed at the festival.

The eco-friendly Yi Peng Lanterns are typically made of either rice paper or a thin fabric. The paper is then spread around a bamboo frame. Avoid buying lanterns that are made with wire, as they are not eco-friendly. The materials of the lantern should be eco-friendly rice paper and bamboo as well as string – not wire.

Note from Luxe Voyage Asia: Our tour arrangements for the Lantern Festival include an authorized lantern for each traveler and our guide to assist you in lighting and sending it off, if you need any help.

More Tips You Should Know About Thailand Lantern Festival

• Book your accommodation as early as possible – as this will give you the best selection.
• If you plan on going to Nawarat Bridge to see Yi Peng, it is important to get there early so that you can secure a spot on the bridge.
• Give yourself plenty of extra time to get around as the traffic can be terrible. Plan your route so that you don’t drive across the Nawarat Bridge, as the traffic will be hardly moving.
• It is important to note that if you are flying in and out of Chiang Mai International Airport during the evening or around the Yi Peng Festival dates – your flight times may be changed. In previous years they have had to reschedule flights during the lantern festival due to safety reasons.
• In order to control the chaos, lanterns are only allowed to be released during certain hours of the day.
• The festival is friendly, but it is also very crowded. Make sure that you pay attention to your surroundings and watch your belongings.
• Purchase a lighter to bring with you to the celebrations. Many people will have them, but it will be easier if you have your own. Also, if someone else forgets their lighter you can lend it to them and make a new friend.

Note from Luxe Voyage Asia: Our tour arrangements for the Lantern Festival include an authorized lantern for each traveler and our guide to assist you in lighting and sending it off, if you need any help.

Note from Luxe Voyage Asia:

Planning a trip to partake in the Thailand Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand can be complicated. This is a busy time of year, so you might find it challenging to book hotels and arrange transport. To make things easy on yourself, consider signing up for our small group private tour experience.

Our arrangement will include everything for you, so that you can focus on enjoying the occasion without hassle. We will also make sure that everyone on our tour gets a chance to send a lantern into the sky and make a wish for a happy future. To find out more about our lantern festival small group tour experience, contact us today.