Why is Loi Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai Special?

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One of the main Chiang Mai lantern festival celebrations is Loi Krathong. When Thailand’s Loi Krathong festival in Chiang Mai is in full swing, my village is buzzing with activity. I promise to learn how to make a krathong every year, but I’m usually too busy. And it is party time for three days.

The official days allocated never seem to stop anyone from letting off fire-crackers days in advance. The villagers have been busy building their colourful floats for the street processions in the old city.

Locals prepare for the Loy Krathong festival by:

1. Making Krathongs: Locals create krathongs, which are intricately decorated floats made from banana leaves, flowers, and candles. These are crafted with care and attention to detail, often by families and schools, to be released on the river during the festival.
2. Decorating Homes and Streets: Homes and streets are adorned with colourful lanterns, flowers, and other decorations. This creates a festive atmosphere and adds to the ambiance of the festival.
3. Attending Traditional Ceremonies: Locals participate in traditional ceremonies and rituals. They include the candle dance performance at the Three Kings Monument and the release of krathongs along the Ping River. These ceremonies are an integral part of the festival and hold significant cultural and spiritual meaning.
4. Participating in Cultural Performances: Locals engage in cultural performances like traditional dances and music. These performances are an essential part of the festival. They take place at various locations, including the Three Kings Monument and along the Ping River.
5. Preparing for Parades and Lantern Releases: Locals prepare for the parades and lantern releases by creating elaborate floats and lanterns. These events are a highlight of the festival and attract large crowds.
6. Food and Drink Preparations: Locals prepare traditional food and drinks which are sold at stalls along the river. This adds to the festive atmosphere and provides a taste of local culture.
7. Family and Community Bonding: The festival is a time for families and communities to share in the celebrations. Families and friends make krathongs, attend ceremonies, and enjoy the festivities together.

Takeaway

The preparation for Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai is a collaborative effort. It involves the entire community, fostering a sense of unity and cultural pride.

The Loi Krathong festival begins

When the monsoon has gone there may still be bouts of heavy rain overnight. It soon clears and the sun becomes bright and hot again with just a gentle cooling Northerly breeze. The rice has been harvested so the farmers can relax and help to make Loi Krathong another fun party.

Chiang Mai City is packed with thousands of revellers, beauty contests and snazzy floats on the last day of the festival. At the end people release thousands of sky lanterns (khom loi). They float up and away on the breeze of the night sky. It’s a beautiful sight, particularly if the full moon dominates a cloudless sky. People also adorn their houses, trees and walls with lanterns where they are either hung or free standing.

Releasing the bad

In Chiang Mai the lantern festival of Loi Krathong is held on the full moon of the twelfth Thai month. It is believed to originate from an ancient ritual. In it people pay respect to the water spirits, and thank the Goddess of water.

Making a Krathong

Many banana trees are cut down so that people can make their little decorative Krathong boats. They then float (loi) them down the river at night. They are made from slices of the main banana trunk. It is then wrapped in stripped banana palm leaves, decorated with fresh flowers, incense and candles.

A circular slice of freshly cut down banana tree is skilfully wrapped in a piece of the leaf. Then it is decorated with incense sticks, candles and flowers. When the candle, which is lit in reverence to the Buddha, and the incense sticks are burning the Krathong is launched. It floats into a calm sea, river, canal or lake, and your Krathong is accompanied by a wish. Mine is usually ‘please don’t let it rain until Loi Krathong is over and we’ve all gone home’. The Krathong floating away from you is a symbolic gesture releasing any pent up anger or hatred.

The Loi Krathong festival has special meaning in Chiang Mai

The festival has special meaning in Chiang Mai because Lanna is where it originated. It is the most spectacular, captivating and engaging of all the Thai festivals. A big festival, where thousands of Khom Fai (sky lanterns) are floated into the air during a Buddhist ceremony.

It is held a few days ahead of the actual Loy Krathong/Yi Peng festival in Sansai. The San Sai district near Maejo University is 20 km north of Chiang Mai near my home.

It is special for these reasons

1. Unique Cultural Significance: Loi Krathong is a cherished tradition. It combines ancient customs, spiritual beliefs, and a sense of communal unity. It is a time for people to come together, let go of past grievances, and celebrate their shared cultural heritage.
2. Lanna Culture: Chiang Mai, once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, showcases the unique Lanna culture of the region. This includes traditional music, art forms, and dance, offering a glimpse into the region’s rich cultural heritage. (Lanna was a powerful Kingdom in the North between the 13th and 18th centuries.)
3. Yi Peng Festival: Loi Krathong coincides with the Yi Peng festival. This is where thousands of lanterns are released into the sky, creating an awe-inspiring spectacle. This adds to the festival’s magical atmosphere and cultural display.
4. Carnival-like Atmosphere: The streets of Chiang Mai transform into a carnival-like atmosphere during the festival. There are parades, cultural performances, traditional music, and dancing. This all creates an incredibly vibrant and festive place to be.
5. Historical Significance: The festival has its origins in the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai and has evolved, making it a unique event that draws visitors from around the world.
6. Symbolic Significance: The floating of krathongs and the release of lanterns symbolise letting go of the past, seeking forgiveness, and making wishes for the future. This adds a deeper layer of meaning to the festival, making it a truly special experience.
7. Community Unity: Loi Krathong fosters a sense of communal unity and celebration, where everyone participates in the festivities, honours the Buddha and the Thai Water Goddess, Mae Phra Khongkha.
8. Magical Ambiance: The festival takes place under the full moon. Flickering lights from the krathongs and lanterns create a mesmerising spectacle. This magical ambiance is a key part of the festival’s appeal.

Takeaway

Loi Krathong in Chiang Mai is special due to its unique cultural significance. The combination of ancient customs and spiritual beliefs, the carnival-like atmosphere, add to the symbolic and historical significance of the event.

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Updated June 2024