By: E Cat
Remember the wildly popular Disney animation “Enchanted” from a few years back, where the king in the story releases sky lanterns in front of the castle every year to commemorate his missing daughter? Little did we know that this romantic scene was actually inspired by Thailand’s traditional festival — the Loy Krathong Festival.
The sky lantern and water lantern blessing events held in Chiang Mai during the festive season are truly awe-inspiring and unforgettable. The photo shows the grandeur of the mass sky lantern release.
The pitch-black river slowly fills with countless flickering lights as water lanterns are densely piled up, creating the illusion of a shimmering “water Milky Way”!
For the largest-scale and most festive Loy Krathong celebration in Thailand, look no further than Chiang Mai. Aside from joining the mass sky lantern release at Mae Jo Monastery, the ancient city of Chiang Mai also hosts a three-day festival featuring spectacular fireworks displays, colorful float parades, and traditional performances. Visitors can also release water lanterns along the moat and Ping River — an absolutely breathtaking sight.
More travel information about Chiang Mai: http://www.dcfever.com/travel/world.php?id=2215
Legend has it that during the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng of the Sukhothai Kingdom, the first Thai dynasty, the prosperity and favorable weather were believed to be blessings from the water goddess Mae Kongka. To express their gratitude, the people chose to celebrate on the 12th full moon of the Thai lunar calendar, around early November in the Gregorian calendar, by releasing water lanterns along the rivers to honor the water goddess. This tradition eventually evolved into the “Loy Krathong Festival.”
Thais believe that releasing water lanterns and sky lanterns can help appease water spirits, ward off misfortune, and bring blessings.
Unlike the lantern-floating festivals in Japan and Korea, the Chiang Mai Loy Krathong Festival does not require participants to use uniform lanterns. All water lanterns are individually designed by locals, making each one unique and distinctive. The designs vary widely — besides the traditional banana stalk bases adorned with banana leaves, there are also eco-friendly lanterns made from ice cream cones (which can even serve as fish food), often priced at just a few dozen Hong Kong dollars. A stroll through the ancient city will surely yield some great finds.
Beyond the rivers and lakes filled with lanterns, the ancient city itself offers plenty of excitement. Near the iconic Tha Phae Gate, a large lantern exhibition is held. Since all the displayed lanterns are personally designed and crafted by local villagers, they are rich in traditional Thai charm. Additionally, the city hosts lively float parades and beauty pageants. Each year, the beauty queens ride on floats from Tha Phae Gate to the moat, interacting closely with the public. The parade route also passes by several temples crowded with people praying and releasing sky lanterns. Watching the orange-red lanterns slowly ascend into the night sky, dotting the darkness like ink brush strokes, is a truly mesmerizing sight.
2015 Chiang Mai Loy Krathong Festival
Tha Phae Gate Celebration (Loy Krathong Festival)
Dates: November 24–26, 2015 (Open to public)
Mass Sky Lantern Festival Yee Peng Lanna International
Date: November 25, 2015
Tickets: US $300 (VIP), US $150 (Premium), US $100 (Standard)
Official Website: www.cmstay.com/yee-peng-2015/
Acknowledgements: Tourism Authority of Thailand (Hong Kong), AirAsia
Wondering what to do in Chiang Mai? Check out Fever Travel’s 9 handpicked attractions: http://www.dcfever.com/travel/sightseeing.php?id=2215