Yi Peng Story

Yi Peng Story : Exploring the Yi Peng Festival

Discovering the History of Yi Peng

The Yi Peng Festival is a traditional celebration that takes place in the city of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Known as the Sky Lantern Festival, it is marked by the release of thousands of lanterns into the night sky. The festival is steeped in history and tradition, and has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years.

The Sky Lantern Festival is held annually on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month and is a time for people to come together to pay homage to the Lord Buddha. The festival has its roots in the ancient kingdom of Lanna, where it was originally a way for people to ask for blessings for the coming year. Over time, the festival has evolved to include the release of lanterns into the sky, symbolizing the letting go of negative thoughts and wishes for a better future.

The Loy Krathong ceremony has a rich history that dates back to the time when floating lanterns were used to pay homage to the Buddha's relics and footprint. However, this tradition underwent a significant change when Mrs. Noppamas, also known as Phra Ruang's consort, invented the "Lotus Krathong". This invention replaced the floating lanterns with lotus-shaped offerings, which soon became a favorite of Somdej Phra Ruang. Impressed by Noppamas's creation, Somdej Phra Ruang wanted to preserve the tradition of Loi Krathong but with the use of lotus krathongs instead of floating lanterns, making it an annual event.

Another important figure in the festival is Phra Mae Ganga. According to the Lanna lunar calendar, the Ganga is revered as a Hindu water guardian deity. The tradition of Loi Krathong involves offering apologies and seeking forgiveness from the Mae Ganga for the use and mistreatment of water. This practice serves as a reminder to people of the importance of water conservation and its value. It is believed that releasing a Krathong into the river is not only a way to ask for forgiveness, but also an act of exorcism, where one can let go of their negative experiences and make a wish for what they desire. The tradition of Loi Krathong is a way to pay homage to the Ganga and purify the soul.

In addition to being a time of celebration, the Yi Peng Festival is also a time of worship. It is held in honor of the Ket Kaew Chulamaneed, which is the Relic of the Lord Buddha that is believed to reside in heaven. During the festival, people release sky lanterns as a symbol of their prayers and wishes for a better future.

The official date of the Yi Peng Festival is announced the year before, but it usually falls on the night of the full moon or one day before or after. The following table lists the upcoming full moons and the tentative dates for the Yi Peng Festival.

Years	Day 1 in Chiang Mai	Day 2 in Chiang Mai
2022	November 8	November 9
2023	October 27	October 28
2024	November 15	November 16
2025	November 5	November 6
2026	November 24	November 25
2027	November 13	November 14
2028	November 1	November 2
2029	November 20	November 21
2030	November 9	November 10
2031	November 17	November 18
2032	November 16	November 17