Yi Peng Lantern Festival – A Truly Amazing Light Display
Yi Peng (sometimes refered to as Yee Peng) is another of Thailand’s famous festivals when thousands of sky lanterns are released into the night sky as a celebration and a cleansing for past wrongdoings.
It is held on a full moon during the second month according to the traditional Lanna (Northern Thailand) calendar, in fact ‘Yi Peng’ actually means “second month”.
Due to quirks of the various Thai calendars Yi Peng often falls on the same date as Loy Krathong which itself takes place on the full moon of the twelfth month (as based on the Thai lunar calendar).
Hence a double celebration which is all the more fun for it. For 2013 both festivals are to be held on the 17th November.
A Festival of Lights
Head down to the beach and release a Khom Loi (floating lantern)
Similar to Loy Krathong, Yi Peng is a Buddhist tradition and a time for making merit such as good deeds and thoughts that will bring a person closer to spiritual liberation.
The releasing of thousands of Khom Loi (which translates as floating lanterns) into the night sky symbolizes respect for the Lord Buddha and seen by many as a way to release bad omens and start afresh.
The release of the lanterns is often said to resemble flocks of giant fluorescent jellyfish gently cruising the night skies.
Firework displays are becoming an ever more common addition to the celebration in recent years.
What is a Sky Lantern?
The sky lanterns are made from very thin rice paper. A paraffin burner at the base provides the hot air that causes the lantern to lift off.
Be careful when handling the lanterns as the paper rips easily and if there is a tear then the lantern will never generate enough lift to head skywards (hint: a little bit of tape helps here).
Where to Go..
While Bangkok and Chiang Mai may hold the most elaborate Yi Peng festivals there are still sure to be plenty of sky lanterns being released across Hua Hin, especially down on the beaches.
Khao Takiab beach, behind the Anantalisa hotel is always a bustling area where you can normally purchase lanterns and release your krathongs into the sea.
Watching hundreds of brightly lit lanterns slowly float into the nights sky is a beautiful sight and one you shouldn’t miss while in Thailand.
