Yi Peng / Yee Peng  refers to the full moon day in the second month according to the Lanna lunar calendar (the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar). The festival is meant as a time to make merit literally: ‘floating lanterns’, are launched into the air. Khomloy are made from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, stretched over a bamboo or wire frame, to which a candle or fuel cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air is trapped inside the lantern and creates enough lift for the Khomloy to float into the sky.

During festival, some people also decorate their houses, gardens, and temples with Khom Fai intricately shaped paper lanterns which take on different forms. Khom Thue are lanterns which are carried around hanging from a stick, Khom Khwaen are the hanging lanterns, which are placed at temples and which revolve due to the heat of the candle inside.

The most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations can be seen in Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom, where now both Loi Krathong and Yi Peng are celebrated at the same time resulting in lights floating on the waters, lights hanging from trees/buildings or standing on walls, and lights floating in the sky. The tradition of Yi Peng was also adopted by certain parts of Laos during the 16th century.

Loy Krathong / Loi Krathong

Loy Krathong / Loi Krathong is a Siamese festival celebrated annually throughout the Kingdom of Thailand. The name is translated to “float a basket”, and comes from the tradition of making Krathong decorated baskets, which are floated on a river.

Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar; hence, the exact date of the festival changes every year. In the Western calendar this usually falls in the month of November. In 2020 it was celebrated on October 31, 2020 In Thailand, the festival is known as “Loy Krathong”

Loy (ลอย)

Loy (ลอย) means “to float”, while Krathong (กระทง) has various meanings, one of which is “A small container made of leaves which can be floated on water during the Loy Krathong festival”. Krathong is traditionally a small leaf container which is made to hold a small portion of goods like a traditional Thai dish (such as “Hor Mok”) or dessert. The traditional Krathong used for floating at the festival are made from a slice of a banana tree trunk or a spider lily plant.  A bread Krathong will disintegrate after a few days and can be eaten by fish. Banana stalk Krathong are also biodegradable, as they pollute the rivers and may take years to decompose. A Krathong is decorated with elaborately-folded banana leaves, incense sticks, and a candle. A small coin is sometimes included as an offering to the river spirits.

On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The festival may originate from an ancient ritual paying respect to the water spirits.

Thai Buddhists in Thailand to honor the Buddha, The candle venerates the Buddha with light, while the Krathong’s floating symbolizes letting go of all one’s hatred, anger, and defilements. People sometimes cut their fingernails or hair and place the clippings on the Krathong as a symbol of letting go of past transgressions and negative thoughts. Many Thais use the Krathong to thank the Goddess of Water.

Loy Krathong coincides with the Lanna (Northern Thai) festival known as “Yi Peng  or Yee Peng”

Yi/ Yee means “two”

Peng means a “Full moon day”.

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What we do after release lantern to sky?

After releasing a lantern into the sky, it is typically left to float up and eventually burn out on its own.
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