Yi Peng (or Yee Peng, Chiangmai Lantern Festival) is another light festival celebrated in Northern Thailand alongside Loy Krathong. It is a Lanna festival with the biggest celebration held in Chiang Mai, which is the ancient capital of the former Lanna Kingdom.
The highlight is that numerous sky lanterns, adorned with lights, are released and ‘float’ up into the sky. Actually, sky lanterns are called khom loi in Thai language, which means floating lanterns.
The khom loi are made of rice paper, stretched over a bamboo frame, with a candle attached. The hot air of the candle is trapped inside and makes the lantern rise from the ground. However, since the lanterns can be dangerous, the khom loi are being subjected to more and more government restrictions.
During the festival, different kinds of lanterns can be seen: houses and temples are decorated with khom fai (paper lanterns); Khom tue are lanterns carried on a stick; and Khom pariwat are revolving lanterns placed on temples.
Date: TBA
Location: Chiang Mai