I tested Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai

I arrived yesterday in Chiang Mai to attend Yi Peng Festival and went to the place where you have to be that night and where thousands of people gather for a religious ceremony before they all together release their floating lanterns into the sky. A fabulous moment !

Yi Peng is celebrated around Loi Krathong, this year it was November 16. And the most interesting event that evening takes place at Dhutanka Lanna Meditation Center. To get there, if you have a taste for adventure and do not worry about getting crammed into a pickup truck converted into a bus, you can go to Worarat Market and along the river you will find dark green songhtaews going to Mae Jo (17 baht) . This is what I did and during the trip, the Thai sentence I heard the most was “rod tit” which means traffic jams and it is true that we were slowly, very slowly ! About 45 minutes later, I got off in front of Mae Jo University (you will see it on the right) . I walked on the bridge to cross the road and enter the university. At the end, turn left and there you should easily find your way. Otherwise, just follow people with paper lanterns . You will reach the road qhere cars and motobike are crammed. Then, there is a dirt road that leads to the field where the ceremony takes place. Here again follow the crowd !

And if you’re hungry or thirsty, don’t worry you’ll be spoiled with choice, the road is lined with food vendors. Do not buy lanterns before the official entry point because in theory (that is displayed on the banner), it is forbidden to bring them from outside even though many people have just ignored the students from Mae Jo University which take care of the security of the place.

The ceremony begins at 6 pm, so try to be there at least for that time even if the release of lanterns only takes place about 2 hours later . On the field, there is staircase scene with a statue of Buddha at the top and monks sitting in lotus position on the steps. On the lawn at regular intervals unlit torches are stuck into the ground. It is 6 pm, the ceremony can start.

Prayers and a sermon before the candle procession of monks and officials around the field. They light the torches in front of the stage and allow the crowd to light the oe among her.. In speakers that since the beginning of the evening are doing their ads in English, Thai and Chinese, a voice reminds you of the instructions to properly run your lantern . Then came the countdown and thousands of lanterns flew into the sky. It was so beautiful !!!!

It is 8.20 pm.The small road that leads to the field is crowed, we can only walk very slowly . Some try to escape by climbing fences. The green songhtaew I took to come is not an option to return to Chiang Mai city. The last one was at 8 pm, but I knew it. I know that I would find a groupaccepting to take me back. It happened quite naturally. You can not evacuate as many people without creating traffic jams so the return trip was quite long and slow, but that’s the price to pay to witness this magical moment. I advise you rather than taking the green songthaews to come and then find a way to come back to try to gather a group of ten people ideally and hire a red pick- ups that crisscross the city to bring you there, wait for you and bring you back. Per person the price will be very reasonable. Some guesthouses and hotels organize it for their guests. This is the case of Kikie ‘s Guesthouse for example. Otherwise, but it is more expensive, you can hire a taxi or tuk- tuk just for you.

I recommend you next year if you are in Thailand at that time , to come to Chiang Mai to attend the Yee Peng Festival ! This such an amazing moment !