This weekend has seen celebrations in Thailand for the annual Loy Krathong Festival. It isn’t a public holiday but it is still an event that brings families together to celebrate a special time of year in Thailand. Homes and businesses decorate the front of their premises with lanterns. Candles or tea-lights may also be used in front of premises and it’s a time to eat, drink and relax and enjoy one of Thailand’s most romantic festivals. Loy Krathong is a colourful and noisy affair with the sound of firecrackers and fireworks filling the air whilst families join together to float small rafts known as ‘krathongs’ to carry away any misfortune and wish for good luck.
In Chiang Mai and parts of northern Thailand, the festival is celebrated in a unique way and is known as Yi Peng. The northern style celebrations are famous for their fire lanterns which have now also been incorporated into Loy Krathong celebrations in other areas of Thailand. I took the photos below over the course of the weekend at various locations around Chiang Mai including the Three Kings Monument, Thapae Gate and the Ping River.
