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The Loy Krathong Festival - Chiang Mai 2009
The world famous Loy Krathong Festival in Thailand this year takes place between 1st & 2nd November 2009.
If you are planning to be Visiting Thailand & even more importantly Chiang Mai during this period, make a note in your diary to attend this truly magnificent event.
It's a time of year when the nights are getting a little cooler & the magic that is Chiang Mai comes alive!!.
The Loy Krathong Festival always takes place on the first full-moon night of the twelfth lunar month.
The custom of placing hand-made floats decorated with flowers and candles on waterways is believed to go back over 700 years to the Sukhothai Historical Period ,which was the formulative period for what became Siam & today is modern day Thailand.
The word “Loy” means to float and “Krathong” is a small vessel made from banana leaves which can float on water. A candle is placed in the krathong, along with incense sticks and small coins. A wish is then made and the “krathong” is sent floating down the river.
This act is seen as a symbolic gesture of gratitude to the Mother River – the source of water without which we could not survive.
Thai belief is that floating the beautiful Krathong away also refers to sending away misfortune and bad things from the past and asking for good luck & fortune in the future.
In Northern Thailand the Loy Krathong festival which is also known as Yee Peng is particularly spectacular & is celebrated for two nights under the full moon.
The celebrations in & around Chiang Mai include the release of thousands of “Khom Loys” (paper hot air floating lanterns) into the night sky all over the city, this really is a not to be missed event and is the feature of the video above.
There is also a procession with floats through the city to the banks of the Ping River, boat races, and a beauty contest.
During the Loy Krathong festival in Chiang Mai each evening the Ping River becomes a sea of glittering floating lights,whilst overhead the magical floating lanterns light the night sky & fireworks are let off everywhere.
This truly is a wonderful time of year to be in Chiang Mai, come & join us for this year's celebrations at the Loy Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai - see you there!!.
In Northern Thailand the Loy Krathong festival which is also known as Yee Peng is particularly spectacular & is celebrated for two nights under the full moon.
