Loy Krathong Celebrations in Chiang Mai

► Where to enjoy Loy Krathong celebrations in Chiang Mai - The festival is celebrated throughout the city and the province, so wherever you are, there is almost certainly a Krathong celebration somewhere close at hand. In Chiang Mai downtown, the Ping River is the main focus to release your "krathong" and for the celebrations, with all the bridges and buildings decked out in bright lights for the occasion. The moat that surrounds the old town is also particularly popular among locals and visitors during the celebrations, with hundreds candles twinkle on the water. Even the beautiful Wat Phan Tao with its small lake attracts large crowds. During the festival, in addition to the floating krathong, khom loy and khom fai fire lanterns are released into the sky by locals and tourists, because in Chiang Mai as in other areas of northern Thailand, the popular Yee Peng Festival is celebrated at the same time as Loy Krathong.
Loy Krathong is probably Thailand’s most interesting and fascinating festival. Also known as the "Festival of Lights" and celebrated nationwide, this popular festival symbolizes the close ties between the Thai culture and water. Loy Krathong Festival is held on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in the month of November when the water level is high and the climate is pleasantly cool. However, the religious ceremonies and events are held over a period of several days, normally a day before and a day after the date of the full moon. In 2023, Loy Krathong falls on Tuesday 27th November, but the celebrations begin on Monday 26th November and end on Wednesday 28th November. The name of festival comes from the Thai word "loy" meaning to float, while "krathong" is a small decorative basket or raft made from natural materials which is then floated on a river. Each year, the festival features several ceremonies and activities such boat races on the rivers, beauty contests, Krathong processions and parades. However, the festival's highlight is made by the lights from hundreds of candles that twinkle on the water. Each one carries prayers and wishes sent off to float down rivers and streams. The traditional krathong used for floating at the festival is made from a cross-section of a banana tree trunk, which is then elaborately decorated with banana leaves and flowers in intricate towering designs. Nowadays, krathongs are also made of bread or Styrofoam. While Styrofoam is not biodegradable and for this reason is sometimes banned, a bread krathong will disintegrate after a few days and can be eaten by fish. The krathongs usually contain a candle, incense and some coins. The person who will be floating the krathong often adds a small cutout of his hair or fingernail. On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathongs on a river, canal or a pond, lighting the candle and making a wish before they are put into the water. It is believed that the krathong carries away bad luck, anger and grudges and signals a new start that will bring good luck and happiness. Since the Loy Krathong coincides with the Lanna festival known as Yi Peng, during the festival period thousands of "Khom Loi", which literally means floating lantern, are launched into the sky in the full moon night. The act of releasing the floating lanterns is a way to pay respect Buddha and also to release bad memories and misfortunes of the previous year. Buddhists also believe that if you make a wish when you release a khom loi, it will come true. A traditional khom loy consists of a thin fabric, such as rice paper or mulberry paper, stretched over a bamboo or wire frame to which a candle or a fuel cell is attached. When the candle is lit, the resulting hot air is trapped inside khom loy and creates enough lift for the lantern to float up into the sky.