Yi Peng is a Buddhist festival of lights celebrated for three days in Northern Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai, culminating on the full moon of the second month in the Lanna lunar calendar, usually in November. The festival is marked by the release of thousands of sky lanterns, temple rituals, and vibrant displays of lanterns and lamps.
- Thousands of sky lanterns are released into the night sky
- Celebrations peak on the full moon of the Lanna calendar's second month
- Temples and streets are decorated with colorful lanterns and clay lamps
- Traditional Lanna music and dance performances enliven the festivities
- Yi Peng coincides with the Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai
What it is
Yi Peng is a luminous festival rooted in the traditions of the ancient Lan Na Kingdom, now celebrated mainly in Northern Thailand. It is a time when people gather to release glowing sky lanterns, known as khom loi, into the night sky, symbolizing the letting go of misfortune and the sending of wishes to the heavens. The festival is deeply connected to Theravada Buddhist beliefs, with acts of merit-making, temple visits, and offerings of light seen as ways to bring purity and good fortune. Yi Peng is most closely associated with Chiang Mai, where the sight of thousands of lanterns drifting upwards creates a magical, communal atmosphere.
Where it comes from
Yi Peng traces its origins to the Lan Na Kingdom, which flourished from the 13th to 18th centuries in what is now Northern Thailand. Some accounts link its roots to even earlier traditions from the Haripuñjaya Kingdom and influences from ancient Indian animist and Brahmanic practices. Over time, Yi Peng became a Buddhist festival, centered on merit-making and the veneration of the Buddha. Legends tell of birds offering light to the Buddha, inspiring the custom of lighting lanterns as a meritorious act believed to bring beauty and good fortune in future lives.
How it is celebrated
The festival spans three days, beginning with preparations and shopping, followed by religious observances at temples, and culminating in the mass release of sky lanterns on the full moon night. People craft khom loi from rice paper and bamboo, igniting them to float away with their wishes and troubles. Homes, gardens, and temples are adorned with colorful lanterns, including hanging lanterns in five traditional colors and small clay lamps called phang pratheep. Rituals include chanting, meditation, and the offering of light to the Buddha and ancestors. In Chiang Mai, the celebrations feature illuminated parades, traditional Lanna music and dance, and the floating of krathong on rivers, blending Yi Peng with the concurrent Loy Krathong festival.
Joining in
Visitors to Chiang Mai during Yi Peng can expect a breathtaking spectacle of lights, especially near temples like Wat Chedi Luang and along the Ping River. The main events include public lantern releases, parades, and cultural performances. While the largest gatherings are in Chiang Mai, celebrations also take place in other northern provinces such as Lamphun, Lampang, and Chiang Rai. As a participant, you can join locals in releasing lanterns, making merit at temples, and enjoying the festive atmosphere, but it is important to be mindful of local customs and the spiritual significance of the rituals.
Sources and attribution
This page is Mela's own summary, written in new words. Its facts are drawn from the Wikipedia article Yi Peng festival, whose text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Each photo is credited to its author beside it. For the full account, read the originals below.
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