What is the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival?
Yee Peng (or sometimes also written as Yi Peng) is a festival unique to northern Thailand which is celebrated on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar (usually in November). The “Festival of Lights” was adapted from Brahmin origins and has close ties with the ancient Lanna Kingdom.
What is the purpose of Yi Peng Festival?
During the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, colourful lanterns are hung outside homes and temples. Sky lanterns are also released during Yi Peng to pay respect to Buddha and as a way for people to symbolically let go of bad memories and make a wish for good luck.
What is the popular belief in the Yi Peng festival?
Yi Peng Festival It is believed that if the lantern disappears from sight before the candle goes out, you’ll be rid of misfortune and any bad luck the following year! It is usually celebrated over 2~3 days.
Who celebrated Yi Peng lantern?
Northern Thailand
It is a festival celebrated across Northern Thailand, but one city in particular draws visitors from all over the world: Chiang Mai. On the same day as the Yi Peng Festival, another similar but slightly different holiday is celebrated by Thais all across the country.
What does the Thai Lantern Festival symbolize?
It symbolizes new beginnings and good luck. When you release your lantern or krathong into a river or into the sky, you are supposed to wish all your problems and bad luck away with it as it is a symbol of new beginnings.
What does Yi Peng refer to?
Yi Peng (sometimes written as Yee Peng) is a traditional Lanna festival that takes place in Northern Thailand. During the festival, participants launch paper lanterns called khom loi into the sky. Hence, it’s sometimes called the Lantern Festival or the Festival of Light.
When was the first Yi Peng lantern?
Yi Peng Lantern Festival History With customs rooted in Buddhism and Hinduism, the Lanna culture dates back to the 13th century. Each year the Yee Peng lantern festival is celebrated throughout the ancient Lanna Kingdom (Northern Thailand) to mark the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the cool season.
Are Chinese lanterns paper?
Paper lanterns are special kind of lanterns that originate from China and Japan. They are made from paper or silk, with frame from bamboo or wood and a lit candle inside as a source of light. Modern paper lanterns have battery-operated lamps.
Why do lanterns have glass covers?
This happens because oxygen in the air inside the glass tumbler is utilized in burning the candle. All the oxygen gets converted into carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide does not support burning and hence candles stop burning.
What does the Thai term Yi Peng mean?
It is celebrated on the full moon in the second month of the Lanna (the ancient northern Thai kingdom) lunar calendar; yi means ‘two’ while peng translates to ‘full moon day’. People come from all over the world to select a khom loi lantern to release into the sky.
What is Yi Peng lantern festival in Chiang Mai?
Yi Peng Lantern Festival (sometimes written as Yee Peng) in Chiang Mai is world-famous for its enchanting sight of thousands of lit lanterns rising into the night’s sky over Chiang Mai. We’ve put together all things you need to know about this romantic festival in Chiang Mai. 1. What is Yi Peng Lantern Festival?
What is Yee Peng festival?
Yee Peng traditionally was celebrated as a stand-alone event to mark the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the cool season, however, nowadays it is celebrated in tandem with Loy Krathong. Although other towns and cities in northern Thailand celebrate Yee Peng, Chiang Mai is the best place to experience this truly magical festival.
What happens during the festival of Chiang Mai?
There are plenty of other activities that happen all over Chiang Mai during the festival. These include worship rituals, decoration contests, bazaars, parades traditional Thai dance shows, the official ‘Yee Peng Parade’ around the Old City gate and down Tha Phae Road, live music, and handicraft sessions.
What is the origin of Yi Peng?
What’s the origin of Yi Peng? Yi Peng Festival was adapted from Brahmin origins and is closely associated with the Thai Lanna culture. Deeply rooted in Buddhism, some people believe Yi Peng Lantern Festival originated in India with the legend of the candle-carrying bird which once visited the Gautama Buddha and spoke to him about merit.