Yee Peng, also known as Yi Peng, a northern Thai holiday, The full moon of the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar, which typically falls in November. This year, it will be November 15 to 16. The ‘Celebration of Lights’ sprang from Brahmin origins and has deep ties to the old Lanna Kingdom. Previously, people celebrated Yee Peng separately to mark the end of the typhoon season and the start of the cool season, but now they celebrate it alongside Loy Krathong. Although other villages and cities in northern Thailand celebrate Yee Peng, Chiang Mai is the ideal site to witness this enigmatic festivity.
History of the Yi Peng Festival.
The Yi Peng Festival is a Thai event that takes place on the evening of the full moon in the twelfth month of the traditional lunar calendar. This ancient celebration, with Brahmin roots, has a strong connection to Thai Lanna culture. Buddhist and Hindu traditions form the foundation of the 13th-century Lanna culture.
Yi Peng is a prominent northern Thai event with its roots in the old Lanna kingdom. Adapted from Brahmin origins, Yi Peng originally marked the end of the windy season and the beginning of winter as a standalone festival.
People celebrate Yi Peng concurrently with Loy Krathong. Events take place all around northern Thailand, but Chiang Mai has become akin to Yi Peng. During Yi Peng and Loy Krathong, there will be lights and stunning processions around Chiang Mai. The “Three Kings Monument,” “Thapae Gate,” and various doorways along the canal that runs through Chiang Mai’s Old Town neighborhood host brilliant lamp exhibitions. Coconut leaves and flowers decorate the front entrances of sanctuaries and families. On Yi Peng Day (the evening of the full moon for Loy Krathong), lights or candles are lit and placed at the doors to stores, homes, and temples. Making lamps or donating them to sanctuaries is one way to achieve merit, and the splendor of light is significant in Buddhist culture because it represents the journey from obscurity to a brighter future.
5 Interesting Facts About Yi Peng.
- Many people think that the story of the light-bearing bird visiting Buddha to discuss merit inspired the creation of the Yipeng Lantern Festival in India. New Beginnings and Good Fortune
- When you toss your light, or Krathong, into a river or a high point, you should wish away your concerns and misfortune since it represents new beginnings.Yi Peng-inspired films
- Yi Peng’s concept of a light celebration influenced Disney’s “Tangled” romantic lantern sequence, Khom Loi
- Every November, people deliver beautiful paper lights high in the air, known as ‘khom loi’ or ‘khom fai.’Buddha
- The festival is one of the traditions held in honor of Buddha.
FAQ About YI Peng Festival
Is Yi Peng a religious festival?
Yi Peng has deep Buddhist roots and continues to be a religious event
What are the distinguishing features of the Yi Peng Festival?
The main difference between the two festivals is the type of lanterns used. At Yi Peng, floating sky lanterns are used, whereas at Loi Krathong, water lanterns are offered to the river deities.
What do sky lamps represent?
The sky lantern event has come to symbolize letting go of one’s deepest fears and desires. It is a symbolic cleansing, letting go of all that bothers you. It also marks the beginning of a new, educated you, with the light illuminating the path of understanding and righteousness.
