The Magic of Yi Peng - Floating Lantern Festival in Chiang Mai

When tens of thousands of glowing lanterns fill the sky and drift away on the warm currents of the atmosphere your cares float away too. Your wishes, your worries, your prayers lifting to the heavens to be swept into the arms of God or to be enveloped into the darkness and be as far removed from you as the East is to the West. 

What Is The Lantern Festival?

I had never heard of the Lantern Festival. The closest I even knew of such a thing even happening is the scene on the Disney Rapunzel movie – Tangled, where lanterns are released every year for the princesses birthday. She was abducted at birth and every year watched the lanterns float through the sky and somehow sensed their connection to her. Finally when she discovers her rightful place and that the lanterns are in celebration of her she is home, happy and found.

There are two of these Lantern Festivals in Chiang Mai, usually in line with the full moon in November. This year there was one reportedly on the 30^th November for tourists at $80 per head. However having friends on the inside we were informed of the local festival-taking place on the 24^th November. The actual date is often confusing as the festival follows the ancient lunar calendar and changes every year.

Getting There

The venue is some 18kms from the Old City and the suggestion is to get there before 6pm. We arranged a Songtow to take our 26-person party there and wait to bring us back. He was confused on where to go and it took a lot longer then we thought, although the traffic was minimal when we left about 4:30pm. 

He dropped us somewhere far away and we had a slight trek to get to the entrance. It wasn't too busy yet and the dirt road walk was fairly easy.

Dressing Appropriately

At the entrance the guards stopped three of our ladies for short shorts and bare shoulders. We moved to the tables selling Chiang Mai labelled clothing and I found myself in a pair of new shorts for 169B ($5AUD). The place was packed… so as a group of travelling families we decided to skip the crowded centre and head to the back. We planted ourselves in the last row where the kids could run around and play without fear of being trampled.

Buying Lanterns 

On our way there we stopped to purchase the official lanterns. You cannot bring lanterns into the gate and so we saw plenty of lanterns going off before the official time. The floating lanterns or Dhammachai lanterns are made from recycled paper and bamboo frame, approx. 90cm in diameter. The releasing of these floating lanterns signifies a time to make merit. To release sins, to make a wish.

I bought one for 100B ($3.50AUD) and then decided maybe 2 would be better. I wish I had got more, it was so fun.

We waited a long time as the monks chanted and the religious side of the festival took place. Josh found plenty of different foods for us all to try including this amazing dough dipped in white chocolate. We socialised, the kids played in red dirt, we ate, and we watched the occasional floating lantern breeze by in the heavens and heard the sporadic sounds of bursting fireworks.

Finally The Time Came

Somehow through the unity of the people a buzz started and lights were lit. All around us were poles with wicks on the end for the purpose of lighting lanterns. People came from nowhere lighting them and soon we were lighting our lanterns. You hold the giant lantern over the flame and into the round circle inside. The circle comes alight and you take the lantern off the flame and hold it down low as the hot air fills the lantern it takes shape and strains for release into the atmosphere.

The photos were taken, the wishes made, the release upon us. Caius tired and scared by the fire trembled in my arms. Mia excited and jumping with glee held on tightly to one side. Josh with camera in hand and the other hand on our lantern. And then me, the mum, also holding the lantern down to the earth until finally on a count of three we all raised our arms. Mia’s fingers slip off first, then mine and finally Josh as the lantern sailed into the firmament with its brothers and sisters.

After our first release we were hooked in watching everyone, filming, photographing, witnessing the delights on people’s faces. All of a sudden a loud boom was heard and the people who were waiting for that released their lanterns and thousands took to the sky. More than thousands! I hear estimates were between 20,000 – 30,000 lanterns.

It was during that moment that I was glad to have been focused on mine. To truly witness the wonder of the beautiful lights filling the sky and slipping away. No words will ever express the beauty and awe.

My 2 year old son watched warily and then whispered, “mummy it’s beautiful.” It certainly was.

He fell asleep soon after in my arms. The fireworks started and we all happily stared at the phenomenon before us. A few lanterns got stuck in trees, burning furiously and then fizzling out. Some lanterns were torn and never made it into the sky. Others found their way into street lamps. But nothing could squash the deep joy one faced when witnessing this marvel.

The Not So Magical Ride Home 

At the end of the fireworks the crowds dispersed, us with them. We walked our way back to our driver only to be met with an absolute standstill of traffic. Our glorious night suddenly tainted by the 2-hour journey home crammed into an 11 person Songtow with 26 people and buckets of rain.

My husband Josh & new friend John became the men of the hour when our shy driver refused to be assertive allowing every car out of the parking lot before him. Josh put his whole 6'8" body in front of a very aggressive bus who revved and beeped and crept into him just so our Songtow could get a foot in. Later at a standstill at lights that were not operating, John braved the middle of the street and started directing traffic to get the flow happening again, before jumping back on in the pouring rain as we drove off.

Despite that mad 2 hours of absolute pain where the children cried and the adults wilted I would go again. By now the painful ride has diminished, but the wonder and joy of the lantern festival remain. 

If you are to do any travel in this life, I would try and add this one to the bucket list. This magical evening left everyone who witnessed it feeling breathless and undoubtedly blessed.

Tips:

• Wave down a Songtow on the street, it will be 1/3 of the price of a parked Songtow waiting for tourists.
• If you can handle it, it’s allowed. Pile your Songtow with as many as you can. We had 3 men hanging off the back, while 23 of us were seated inside. It wasn’t pleasant, but it was cheap.
• We didn’t take a pram with concern for the crowds, but we could have, it’s doable.
• Bring a match or lighter to light your lamp poles.
• Maybe book a place near the uni if you want to escape the traffic catastrophe on the way home.
• Don’t buy your own lanterns, you cannot bring them in. Wait to buy the official ones inside. While the big ones are the standard ones used, there are other shapes and colours to purchase.
• Use photography and video you will want to capture every moment. But then take that moment to drop the camera and just watch, it truly is divine. 

During our time in Chaing Mai we stayed at Sri Pat Guesthouse. For the latest prices click here.

There are so many photos for you to see, please head to our Photo Journal.

Or perhaps you are more visual and would love to see our videos of the evening?