Loi Krathong

[aot871]

Does any one know the main day for loi krathong this year.I have checked on line but some sites say the 6th nov and others say 7th or 8th

[BonTong]

It's the same mystery every year.... In Chiang Mai the municipality is always late in getting their event schedule out and nothing is ever in English.

If you want a Thai answer it's a full moon cycle after Ook Phansaha (end of Buddhist Lent) and approx 2 weeks (New Moon) before Pi Mai Tai (Tai Yai or Shan New Year). ;)

My understanding was that its held on the Full Moon, either with the full moon as the middle or last day of three. Most sites I've seen put the full moon as 7 Nov (e.g. http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/VTCC/2014/11/7/DailyHistory.html ) but I've seen others saying 6th :-? e.g. This site has a schedule of Chiang Mai events from 5-7 but puts the full moon on the 6th http://www.chiangmai-alacarte.com/loy-krathong-festival-november-5-6-and-7-2014-0 With the 7th being Friday and Loy Khratong not being an official public holiday it's my guess some festivity will spill over into the weekend too.

Sorry not to give a definitive answer but at least you have a margin of error for planning.

[Surfcrest]

Loi Krathong 2014

http://festivalasia.net/festivals/Loi-Krathong-2014.html

And

Yi Peng 2014 (Lantern Festival)

http://festivalasia.net/festivals/Yi-Peng-2014--Lantern-Festival-.html

http://www.yeepenglanna.net

This event Yi Peng 2014 (Lantern Festival) sold out last year.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y69/Surfcrest/5.jpg

Surfcrest

[BonTong]

Loi Krathong 2014

Yi Peng 2014 (Lantern Festival)

http://festivalasia.net/festivals/Yi-Peng-2014--Lantern-Festival-.html

http://www.yeepenglanna.net

This event Yi Peng 2014 (Lantern Festival) sold out last year.


This event always causes lots of confusion. Yi Peng is the Lanna name for the Loy Khratong festival in Chiang Mai, but has become synonymous with the mass lantern release shown in the photo - many thousands of lanterns released together. This does not take place during the Loy Khratong festival but typically a few days before, usually on a Saturday evening around 6 or 7p.m.. It is out in a field near Mae Jo university to the north east of Chiang Mai city. Thousands of people go making it complete traffic chaos and their is a fair distance to walk to the launch site.

I've met several people in past years who came to Loy Khratong in Chiang Mai expecting to see this and were disappointed. That said, there are still plenty of lanterns release over the Loy Khratong nights but not as a single event.

To add further confusions there are apparently two events at Mae Jo. One is a special one for tourists which they charge around 100USD. I'm not sure what you get for that, but believe it was what sold out. The main lantern release is open to everyone, it's essentially free, but you have to buy the official lantern which is how they make money for the temples and Buddhist causes. The main event includes some Buddhist rituals and blessings.

I should add I've never been to either event, so the information is second hand. But, I do know many people who have been.