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We were fortunate enough to be in Chiang Mai during the Yee Peng Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival. It is held annually on the full moon of the 12th month in the Thai lunar calendar, which this year occurred on November 6th.
The festival features beautifully illuminated lanterns, which are either carried, displayed in houses and temples, or launched into the night sky. Kathong, an offering traditionally made from bamboo stalk and adorned with candles, incense and money, are floated down rivers as shown in the photo above (copied from the web, I wasn't there).
A soundtrack comprised of a steady barrage of fireworks and firecrackers accompanies the Krathong and airborne lanterns. Most of the festivities took place on the other side of the old city from our condo, about 4 kms away. Easy enough to walk when it's nice out, but unfortuateley, the weather didn't cooperate with rain all day Wednesday and most of Thursday. As such, Brenda and I decided not to attend the festivities and watched and listened from the comfort of our 7th floor balcony.
The lanterns started filling the sky at just after 6:00 PM and continued on until midnight Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It was quite a beautiful site that I attempted to videotape, but the results aren't worth posting. All you can see is a few orange dots against a black background, so I'll spare you the agony. The fireworks, some that sounded like cannon shot, went on until after 1:00 AM, forcing me to get up and close the patio doors so I could get some sleep. I know, I sound like a grumpy old man, but that's what happens when I only get 5 hours shut eye.
The entire city participates in the festival, with all the shops, hotels and even our condo decorating with lanterns and lighting candles around their entranceways at sundown. Ive posted a photo of our condo's lobby area showing the decorations they hung out.
Although I was a little sad we didn't get down to the festival site, one of the web pages I read warned that the combination of alcohol infused youths armed with kerosene lamps and fireworks can be a little on the dangerous side. So, in the end, the rain may have been a good thing.
Next time we're wintering here, we'll make it a point to go out and join the crowds. Reckless yutes be damned!
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