Each year the Loi Krathong Festival features activities at various venues throughout the city such boat races on the Mae Ping River, Yipeng lantern procession and contest, Beauty contest, and Krathong parades and contests. The dates of the Loy Krathong Festivalalways cause plenty of confusion. They change every year depending on the full moon. Loy Krathong is not an official public holiday in Thailand. The Loy Krathong Festival is one of the most interesting and fascinating festivals in Thailand.
The history of Loy Krathong Festival is rather obscure. Some believe that Krathong was first created by Tao Sri Chulalak or Nang Noppamas in Sukothai. Others overlook its origin yet focus on the purposes of the ritual: to pay respect to the Goddess of the Water showing their gratitude on their plentiful use of water and ask for forgiveness in the ensuing pollution. Floating the beautiful Krathong away is the key activity of the Loy Krathong Festival.
It also refers to flying away misfortune and bad things in the past and asking for good luck in the future. Although it is not a national holiday, many activities other than floating Krathong, are conducted in this festival, such as, contests of Krathong-making and Noppamas beauty pageants, local games and performances and you can join this spectacular occasion at Chiang Mai where it is specifically called Yee Peng – floating of lanterns into the sky.
Please note: below program is based on programs of the past years. A final program and more detailed will be published later in 2017. We will keep you updated.
Thursday, November 2, 2017
1830 to 1900 – Opening Ceremony “2017 Chiang Mai Yi Peng Festival” – Location: Thapae Gate
1900 – 2300 – The Lantern Procession Contest (for The Royal Trophy) – Location: Thapae Gate to Chiang Mai Municipality
Friday November 3 (Full Moon), 2017
0809 – 1030 – Worshiping Ritual to House of Spirits, White Pagoda and Ping River – Location: Chiang Mai Municipal Building and Srikhong Temple’s pier
0900 – 1700 – Handmade Krathong Contest – Location: Office of Chiang Mai Municipality
