Chiang Mai Festivals & Events

 Loi Kratratong
One of the most beautiful and moving sights are the festivities relating to the annual festival of Loi Kra-Thong held in November. As the moon rises in the evening, a small lotus-shaped raft of banana leaves filled with flowers, candle, a snip of your nail, a piece of your hair, and a few coins, is set afloat in the ocean or down a waterway begging good luck for the forthcoming year. The best Kra-Thong must be made of banana leaves or bread so that becoming food for the fish. In Chiang Mai, there is releasing the large paper hot-air balloons. It’s like you cast away your troubles and call in the hopes of the future. One thing of Loi Kra-Thong is to “thank” to the water. However, this day is one day I enjoy with Loi Kra-Thong, releasing the balloons, and playing fireworks.

Loi Kratong (known locally as Yi Peng):
Held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. In the western calendar this usually falls in November. Every year thousands of people assemble floating banana-leaf containers (krathong) decorated with flowers and candles onto the waterways of the city to worship the Goddess of Water.

Khom Loy Festival in Chiang Mai
(khom fai) are launched into the air. These are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.

The highlight of the event focuses on the launching of the Khom loy or floating lanterns into the sky is a belief that misfortune will fly away with the lanterns. the flame in the lantern is said to symbolise knowledge and the light it gives will guide them to the right path of their lives. 

Tan Kuay Salak
Tan Kuay Salak is Lanna tradition to present offerings to a Buddhist monk. It’s normally on September to November in every year. Each village will set the date for people and the temple in order to parade to Wat or temple. Then a bamboo baskets are made with the banana leafs putting on the bottom of basket. After that people put the dry food (stock fish, red onion, instant noodles, cigarette, etc.), fresh fruits (banana, sugar cane, orange, etc) and appliances (toothpaste, soap, toilet paper, towel, etc.) and make it like a shelf. The people who intent to make Tan Kuay Salak have to identify person who donates on behalf of, and then write it down on book palm (Salak) before putting to the shelf. Next they decorate with the flowers and celestial tree before making a parade with cultural shows and going to the choosing temple.

 Tam Boon Khan Dok, the Inthakin (City Pillar) Festival
This formality is very important for Chiang Mai. We normally have a city pillar adoration ceremony once a year on May or June (rainy days). We believe that the pillar is very strong and we adore having constant lives. And we also sacrifice the city pillar on rainy season to let through year have a better agriculture. Many people come to joy the activities which come with this ceremony.

Tam Boon Khan Dok, the Inthakin (City Pillar) Festival, starts on the day of the waning moon of the six lunar month and lasts 6–8 days. In 2009, this is May 20-27. Centered around Wat Chedi Luang where the city pillar is housed, this is a celebration of brahmic origin. Offerings are made to the city pillar as well as the many other Buddhist and Lanna-era icons. Dancing, musical performances, carnival games, and the ubiquitous Thai vendor food is present. This is a very large celebration in which the Chiang Mai citizenry participate.