Neil Aronson Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Festivals are two of the best holidays in Thailand for locals and tourists. Many tourists plan their trip around this holiday, as it is one of the most colorful, festive, and fun times in Thailand. Both coincide with each other, lasting two days in most cities. Depending on what day it falls on, the night before can also be a lot of fun with public activities as there was last year in Chiang Mai.
Resources
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A Little About Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is a Thai festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and in nearby countries with significant South Western Thai cultures (Laos, Shan, Mon, Tanintharyi, Kelantan, Kedah, and Xishuangbanna). The name could be translated as “to float ritual vessel or lamp,” and comes from the tradition of making Krathong or buoyant, decorated baskets, which are then floated on a river.
Many Thais use the Krathong to thank the Goddess of Water and River, Goddess Khongkha or to worship the Holy Buddha’s hair pagoda in heaven in Buddhist beliefs. This festival traces its origin back to India.
Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, so the exact date of the festival changes every year. In the Western calendar this usually falls in the month of November. In Chiang Mai, the festival lasts three days.
A Little About Yi Peng
Loy Krathong coincides with the Lanna (northern Thai) festival known as Yi Peng. Yi means ‘two’ and peng means a ‘full moon day’. Yi Peng refers to the full moon day in the second month according to the Lanna lunar calendar (the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar).[32] The festival is meant as a time to make merit.
Swarms of sky lanterns (Thai: โคมลอย; RTGS: khom loi), literally: ‘floating lanterns’, are launched into the air. Khom loi are made from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, stretched over a bamboo or wire frame, to which a candle or fuel cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air is trapped inside the lantern and creates enough lift for the khom loi to float into the sky.
During the festival, some people also decorate their houses, gardens, and temples with khom fai (Thai: โคมไฟ), intricately shaped paper lanterns which take on different forms.
Here is a calendar for 2024 in Chiang Mai.
Celebrating In Chiang Mai
Loy Krathong is best celebrated in Chiang Mai, in my opinion. If your visiting in November during this time, you are lucky. Enjoy traditions and festivities of this Buddhist holiday. It is one of Thailand’s biggest celebrations and the most iconic lantern festival. Celebrated all over Thailand, however if you are staying in Chiang Mai you will be able to join the festivities along the Ping River.
Many tourist ask about buying tickets for this event. However, unless you want to go to a private party somewhere outside the city, there is no need. Most of the best parts of the holiday are free in the city, between the Tha Phae Gate, along Tha Thae Raod, down to the Ping river.
Here are a few tips for Chiang Mai city:
- No need to buy tickets or pay for activities in the city. From Tha Phae Gate square along Tha Phae Road, down to the Ping River are all free festivities.
- The parade along Tha Phae Road is free. Get your spot along the road early.
- You can purchase Lanterns from vendors along the way. Keep in mind it is not legal to release, but will see it is not enforced.
- You can purchase Krathong’s and release in the river across the bridge, for a small fee. This is an official event.
- The old city hotels fill up, so book as soon as possible.
Recommended Hotels Nearby:
MD Boutique Located on Ratvithi Rd, which is central.
Somwang Boutique House Small with nice outdoors and pool. Excellent walking location.
Eurena Boutique Hotel The entire property was recently remodeled.
Bodhi Serene Our top pick. Incredible value for how nice it is.
Amora Tha Phae Gate High rise resort hotel in great location with super rates.
Visit Lamphun And Temples
In Lamphun up to the holiday, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai Woramahawihan in Lamphun will be illuminated by the Hundred Thousand Lanna Lantern Festival. To preserve Lanna practices, worshippers will create colorful, handcrafted lanterns to pay homage to Buddha’s relics and write names and birthdays on them to pray for prosperity and discovering the light in their life.
Last year my wife and I bought a lantern, which you can hang at the temple and make a wish. Nearby In the downtown area of the city is the Queen Cham Dhavi Monument, which is also decorated.
Temples throughout Chiang Mai including Wat Phra Singh are also decorated and have celebrations. Even coffee shops.
Magical Lantern “Yee Peng” Loy Krathong Festival 2024 is the event is jointly organized by villagers, temples, and ethnic schools. The concept is to host a semi-charity tourism event, allowing students to showcase their talents. A portion of the proceeds will fund 15 scholarships for hill tribe students and provide lunch for over 100 students in the school.
Celebrating In Bangkok
In Bangkok, the festival takes to the streets with parades of elaborate floats and folk dancers, while the Krathong’s illuminate the majestic Chao Phraya River. There are also boat races and fireworks displays.
The main Loy Krathong celebration in Bangkok has been held at Asiatique since 2013. Previously, it was held along the banks of Wat Saket in the Old City, which is still a popular place to celebrate. For anyone around Khao San Road, head to the nearby Phra Athit Pier.
Krathong Procession at Chao Phraya River. Witness the magnificent sight of thousands of Krathong’s floating along the iconic Chao Phraya River. Join the riverbank crowds or opt for a river cruise to see the beautifully illuminated floats, all while enjoying traditional music and dance performances.
Hotels located along the Chao Phraya River are especially popular and often have Loy Krathong events combined with a special dinner and fireworks
The Most Popular Bangkok Hotels During Loy Krathong:
Ayutthaya, Sukhothai & Pattaya
Ayutthaya, one of Thailand’s oldest cities, follows this tradition as well. Here, locals release “floating umbrellas” into the waterways instead of Krathong’s. These umbrellas are often decorated with flowers or lights, depending on the desired level of elaboration for this ritual of wishes.
Sukhothai, the first Thai capital, is the place where this festival was first celebrated. The highlights of the Sukhothai Loy Krathong celebration are Light & Sound presentations, along with a spectacular firework show, elephant duel show, Sukhothai dancing, and cultural performances in front of Wat Mahathat at Sukhothai Historical Park.
The event venue at the central area of Sukhothai Historical Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, can be accessed with an admission ticket that costs from 500 THB to 1,200 THB. The show will be available every night at 19:00 with an additional performance on the last day of Loy Krathong festival celebration at 20:30.
Pattaya City scheduled the Pattaya Loy Krathong Festival to promote cultural tourism on 15 November 2024. In Pattaya, Loy Krathong Festival 2024 will be held all across the city and the beach.
The main places for locals and tourists to enjoy the event are activity areas of Central Pattaya (Pattaya Beach), Jomtien Beach and Lan Po Public Park in Na Kluea. There will be the Krathong making contest from natural materials, cultural art performances as well as lots of fun activities.
Celebrating In Phuket
Major hotels in Phuket usually host a special evening for guests to launching their Krathong in the sea. This results in a delightful scene as thousands of candlelit Krathong’s bob on the waves. In Patong, many young boys often volunteer (for a small fee) to carry your Krathong out a little further for a more auspicious start.
All of Phuket’s major west coast beaches take part in Loy Krathong festivities. Nai Harn Lake and Patong Beach usually have the most activities, with locals visiting beaches like Kata and Karon. In Phuket, popular locations for floating Krathong’s include Patong Beach, Saphan Hin, and Chalong Pier.
Saphan Hin Park and Suan Luang (King Rama IX) Park in Phuket Town are popular places for locals to celebrate. Expect huge crowds at both of these locations.
In addition to the floating of Krathong’s, the festival in Phuket features a variety of cultural performances, traditional Thai music, and dance. Many areas also host spectacular firework displays that light up the night sky, adding to the festive atmosphere.
