Yi Peng Festival by Yamilet González Cordero

It is celebrated on November 11 and 12 in Thailand, on the outskirts of the city of Chiang Mai.

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This event brings together thousands of people to celebrate the arrival of a new cycle of life and leave behind the negative aspects of each person and thus welcome good luck.

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The Yi Peng coincides with the festival of Loy Krathong “the goddess of water”, celebrated in the rest of Thailand, in which floating baskets with candles and floral decorations are placed in the rivers, as a ritual to get rid of bad luck.

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The celebration has a mystical and ancestral sense of the roots of the ancient kingdom of Lanna (XIII-XVIII), an ancient city north of Chiang Mai.

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Usually from 6 to 8 p.m. a Buddhist ceremony is held, and at the end the lamps are prepared to fly through the sky. When the Buddhist monks give the order, thousands of locals and tourists illuminate the sky with spectacular incandescent paper lanterns, known as “Khom Loy,” which are released to fly in the darkness of the night to venerate the light of Buddha and announce the new cycle of life that coincides with the second new moon.

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Incandescent lanterns are made of rice paper on a bamboo or wire frame and fueled by the fire of a candle or a small fuel tank. The custom is to make a wish before releasing the paper lanterns. For three days, music, traditional dances, color and fireworks flood the streets and temples, offering a magical image.

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If you are interested in participating in this festival, we recommend the following tips:

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-We recommend booking your accommodation in Chiang Mai in advance.

-The places where it takes place are full of people so it is advisable to arrive around 3 or 4 pm (two or three hours before) to get a good place.

-Have your paper lantern ready: Try to get a streetlight as soon as you arrive. There are people distributing from the beginning. Also be prepared and bring a lighter and a marker to write your wishes.

-Do not buy lamps from external suppliers since generally the flashlights did not pass safety standards. Avoid buying plastic ones and only buy those made of recyclable materials.

-Respect the customs of the local people.

-If you want to enjoy the festival as a local, the busiest area is the Nawarat Bridge and around the Ping River. There you can share this experience with other travelers and locals.

At this time, the maximum temperature is around 32ºC and the minimum is 20ºC.

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outfit:

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Participants are asked to dress in smart casual clothing, such as long pants or shorts that cover the knees and other parts of the body.

It is also common to see Thais wearing traditional Thai clothing during the festival.

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