Sky Lantern History

Sky lantern history : History of Yi Peng Festival

Uncovering the Origins and Evolution of the Festival of Lights

The Sky Lantern Festival or Yi Peng Festival is a vibrant and colorful festival celebrated annually in Northern Thailand, particularly in the city of Chiang Mai. It is a time of joy and celebration, marked by the release of thousands of lanterns into the night sky, creating a mesmerizing display of light and color.

The festival is also known as the “Yi Peng Sky Lantern Festival” and is held on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month. It is an important part of the local culture and a time for people to come together to pay homage to the Lord Buddha.

The history of the Sky Lantern Festival can be traced back to the ancient kingdom of Lanna, which was located in what is now Northern Thailand. The festival was originally a way for people to pay homage to the Lord Buddha and to ask for blessings for the coming year. Over time, the festival has evolved to include the release of lanterns into the sky, which symbolizes the letting go of negative thoughts and wishes for a better future.

The Loy Krathong ceremony has a rich history, originally consisting of floating lanterns as an act of worship towards the Buddha's relics and footprint. However, this tradition was transformed when Mrs. Noppamas, also known as Phra Ruang's consort, introduced the "Lotus Krathong". Instead of floating lanterns, people started using lotus-shaped krathongs, which were said to have made a deep impression on Somdej Phra Ruang when he saw them during a boat trip. Impressed by their beauty, he wanted the Loy Krathong tradition to continue every year, but with the use of lotus krathongs instead of floating lanterns, to be regarded as an exemplary practice.

Another important figure in the festival is Phra Mae Ganga. The Ganga, a Hindu water guardian deity, is honored annually according to the Lanna lunar calendar through the Loi Krathong ceremony. This tradition is meant to serve as a form of apology and exorcism, asking for forgiveness from Mae Ganga for the misuse of water and for throwing waste into the river. The ceremony serves as a reminder to respect and value water, promoting the conservation of this precious resource. Additionally, Loi Krathong is believed to not only be an apology to Mae Ganga, but also a way to cast away negative experiences and make wishes for the future. Participants make a wish before releasing their Krathong into the river, symbolically letting go of the past and hoping for a brighter future.

In addition to being a time of celebration, the Sky Lantern Festival is also a time of worship. The festival is held in honor of the Ket Kaew Chulamaneed, which is the Relic of the Lord Buddha that is believed to reside in heaven. During the festival, people release sky lanterns as a symbol of their prayers and wishes for a better future.

The official date of the Sky Lantern Festival is usually announced a year in advance. However, the festival typically takes place on the night of the full moon or one day before or after. 

Here are the upcoming full moons and tentative dates for the Yi Peng Lantern Festival:

Years	Day 1 in Chiang Mai	Day 2 in Chiang Mai
2022	November 8	November 9
2023	October 27	October 28
2024	November 15	November 16
2025	November 5	November 6
2026	November 24	November 25
2027	November 13	November 14
2028	November 1	November 2
2029	November 20	November 21
2030	November 9	November 10
2031	November 17	November 18
2032	November 16	November 17