Yee Peng and Loi Krathong are two festivals that mark important moments in the calendar year for many Thais.  Often confused as one and the same, they are actually two distinct holidays.  Together, they make the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival an enormous event.

Yee Peng is the reason tourists from around the globe flock to Chiang Mai. When you think about dreamy photographs of lanterns filling the sky, you are thinking about Yee Peng.

Yee Peng is a celebration of new beginnings that falls at the end of the rainy season. When you let go of a lantern, you are symbolically letting go of your misfortunes and making space to let in good, new energies. The belief is that your wish will come true if you do good deeds in the next year.

Yee Peng is a holiday from the Lanna Kingdom. From the 13th to the 18th centuries, the Lanna Kingdom was based in Northern Thailand, separate from the Kingdom of Siam to its south. While the two kingdoms joined in the late 18th century, Northern Thais still hold onto many customs and traditions from ancient times. Chiang Mai was the Lanna Kingdom’s capital. This is the reason the largest celebration of the holiday is held here.

Yee Peng is celebrated on the second full moon of the Lanna calendar. Its name means “second full moon” in the Lanna language (yee means “two” and peng means “full moon”).

Loi Krathong is celebrated throughout Thailand and its surrounding countries. Its name means “floating baskets” or “to float a basket” (loi meaning “to float” and krathong meaning “basket”). It falls on the twelfth full moon of the Thai lunar calendar. People can make a krathong, or small basket, set a candle in the middle, light it, and then release the krathong into the water. 

The belief is that when one lets go of a krathong, it will take away your sins and bad luck. You can then make a wish and the krathong will carry it into the new year for you. Throughout its history, the region has relied on agriculture and subsistence farming. The holiday is a way for the Thai people to pay homage to Phra Mae Thorani, their goddess of water. They thank her for providing water and a good harvest. They also ask her for forgiveness for using her resources and creating pollution.

It is believed that Loi Krathong originated from the Indian holiday Diwali. In both festivals you will find people releasing floating baskets into waterways as an expression of gratitude to and a desire for forgiveness from their water gods.

Lantern Festival Dates & Schedule 2019

Both Yee Peng and Loi Krathong usually fall in November. The exact dates vary from year-to-year due to the Thai and Lanna calendars not perfectly lining up with the Gregorian calendar. Also, since these festivals depend on the full moon, the exact date of the full moon will shift annually. 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand releases the exact dates of each festival ahead of the event, usually by the end of October.  The dates for 2019 festivities are from 9th to 12th November with November 11th and 12th for Lantern and Krathong releases.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand also announces the official time people can begin to release lanterns.  It can vary from year-to-year as it depends on flight schedules, but it is usually around 8pm or 9pm.  Generally speaking, if you follow what the locals do, you will know if it’s safe to start.

The latest release announcements from Chiang Mai municipality are: lanterns, balloons, and similar objects will be allowed to be released on the full moon day (Krathong day) and the first waning moon day of Thai twelfth lunar month, that is on 11th and 12th November 2019 between 7 PM and 1 AM. 

You can see the full official schedule for the events below. Here are some highlights for how to participate in the activities:

On 10th November join the opening ceremony at Thapae Gate at 6 PM.

On 10th November see the Yee Peng lantern procession starting at 7 PM from Thapae Gate and ending at around 10 PM at Pantip Plaza. Stand anywhere along the way to enjoy the procession.

On 11th November join the Krathong making contest at Chiang Mai Municipality between 9 AM and 3 PM to make your own Krathong. 

On 12th November see the Krathong procession starting at 7 PM from Thapae Gate and ending around 11 PM at Chiang Mai Municipality. Stand anywhere along the way to enjoy the procession.

Every night of the festival (9th – 12th November) come to light terracotta candles at the Three Kings Monument between 7 and 11 PM.

Every night of the festival walk around the moat between 7 and 10 PM to enjoy the lantern displays.

From 10th to 12th November visit Wat Lok Moli temple for chanting and terracotta candle lighting between 9 and 10 PM. 

Where to celebrate Yee Peng and Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai province

In Chiang Mai, you will find two kinds of releases. One type of event is a mass release where you need to purchase tickets ahead of time. Tickets can run several hundred US dollars per person and can sell out in advance, so plan accordingly if you would like to go that route. Alternatively, you can attend free events in and around Chiang Mai Old City. This is where you will find locals releasing their lanterns free of charge.

For the free festivities on Yee Peng, head to the Ping River, Thapae Gate, and the Old City moat. Come with a lantern and a wish, then release them.  For Loi Krathong, head to a temple or bridge to release your krathong into the water. Below we will provide information on purchasing and releasing lanterns sustainably.

Keep in mind that the Yee Peng and Loi Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai is an enormous tourist draw. Expect that half of the people celebrating are visitors to Thailand having a once in a lifetime experience. This is quickly changing who celebrates these festivals and how they are celebrated. Many local Thais are now choosing to quietly celebrate at home with family.

How to celebrate Yee Peng and Loi Krathong safely and sustainably

While the festivals are both beautiful and, understandably, on many people’s bucket lists, it’s important to think about how to celebrate them in ways that are respectful to the local people, animals, and environment. Doing so will ensure the celebrations will continue to be in line with their symbolism. For example, if releasing a krathong is asking for forgiveness for contributing to pollution, the krathong itself should not pollute the environment.

It’s important to note that technically, releasing sky lanterns floating lanterns in the water have set regulations for safety and environmental protection. In practice, however, these laws are loosely enforced; tradition is so strong with so many people celebrating that law enforcement cannot keep up with all the activity.

That said, when celebrating we should think about where our lanterns end up and what happens when they get there. It is no doubt a source of pollution which can have devastating effects if not handled carefully. This is especially important when we consider the large numbers of tourists releasing lanterns. This not only dramatically increases the number of lanterns released, but also the likelihood that there will be preventable catastrophes occurring. 

Most tourists come with good intentions. They want to experience the beauty and take part in the spirit of these festivals. Perhaps they also share in the beliefs these holidays purport. However, with so many diverse people taking part in the festivities, there inevitably will be a range of care given in which lanterns to use, how many to release, and how to release them. Our goal is to help participants understand some best practices to enjoy the lantern festival safely and sustainably.

What to consider when participating in the Yee Peng and Loi Krathong Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai in 2019

• Purchase your lanterns ahead of time. At the time of the festival you may or may not easily find vendors selling lanterns. If you do, they may not meet environmental regulations set by the Thai government. You want to make sure your lanterns are composed only of biodegradable materials. This way, when the lantern eventually burns out and lands somewhere, it will break down in a short amount of time. 
  • Avoid sky lanterns with wire frames and floating water baskets made of plastic or styrofoam as these will not decompose. They are a hazard to animals as well.
  • Sky lanterns made of thin pieces of rice paper and bamboo are ideal.
  • Choose floating water baskets made from banana tree trunks, old bread, ice cream cones, and/or flowers. Fish can eat lanterns made of bread or ice cream cones, which make them excellent choices.
• Learn how to light your lantern and when to release it. This is especially important for the sky lanterns as falling lanterns that are still lit can burn people. They can also set things on fire in the surrounding area, like trees, buildings, electrical poles and wires, and farmers’ fields.  Pay close attention to how locals are lighting their lanterns. You’ll likely notice that at least two people manage one lantern. They use their fingers to make small dents in the wax and then light the candle low to the ground. Once the lantern is lit, they give it plenty of time for the flame to build up and for enough heat to accumulate. They will slowly lift the lantern to see if it’s able to start floating on its own. They check to make sure there are no noticeable winds that might carry it in an unintended direction (remember: you want the lantern to float up high and away, not slightly up and then sideways leading to a collision with a person, tree, building, etc). They are patient and only release the lantern when it’s obviously ready to go.
• Release just one lantern. The fewer lanterns there are means that less pollution will generate from them. This also reduces the amount of cleanup work needed after the festivities are over. You only need one sky lantern and one floating lantern to release your misfortunes, pay your respects, and make your wish.
• Be aware of the consequences of not celebrating responsibly. Sky lanterns cause fires and floating water baskets clog rivers, dams, and other waterways. Every year, bystanders experience burns and homes, trees, and fields are set ablaze due to misuse of sky lanterns. Floating water lanterns that do not breakdown pollute water. Be aware of the locations of local hospitals in the event you need to find one.

The Yee Peng and Loi Krathong lantern festivals in Chiang Mai are a time when you get to reflect on your life, let go of anything bad from the past, and wish for better times ahead. Knowing that you took care of yourself and the surrounding environment will give you even greater peace of mind following these holidays.