Loi Krathong

Loi Krathong (another one of those words that one can find different spellings for) takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar.

In the Western calendar this usually falls in November.  According to the dictionary, loi means "to float", while krathong  has various meanings, one of which is "a basket to be floated on water in the Loi Krathong festival". Several translations of krathong are found, such as "floating crown", "floating boat", "floating decoration". On the night of the full moon, Thais launch their krathong on a river, canal or a pond, making a wish as they do so. The festival may originate from an ancient ritual paying respect to the water spirits.

Loi Krathong coincides with the Lanna (northern Thai) festival known as Yi Peng.  Swarms of Lanna-style sky lanterns (khom loi), literally: "floating lanterns") are launched into the air where they resemble large shoals of giant fluorescent jellyfish gracefully floating through the sky. Khom loi are made from a thin fabric, such as rice paper, stretched over a bamboo or wire frame, to which a candle or fuel cell is attached. When the fuel cell is lit, the resulting hot air is trapped inside the lantern and creates enough lift for the khom loi to float up into the sky.

The festivities start several days before the official full moon date with music, a beauty pageant,

floats 

and three days of parades, each successively larger than the preceding day's. 

This was the second day.  Unfortunately, it rained hard on the third day's parade and I was glad that I had decided not to go.  One was enough on top of the main event on the night of the full moon. 

The crowds for these events are overwhelming.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UabOVubhOs&feature=youtu.be

I cycled across town to the bridge over the Ping River where the lanterns are sent aloft and purchased a krathong along the way to launch into the river, battling the throngs to do so. 

 Then battled the crowds again to cross the river to purchase a lantern.  Lanterns are scheduled to launch at 9:00, I learned the next day, so that flights from the airport can be cancelled as the lanterns pose a danger to planes but people started sending them up at around 6:30.  

Here goes mine:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F5yOdZ-0sM&feature=youtu.be

A steady stream of them, hundreds and hundreds, sailed upwards from then until late at night. 














Up they go:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fnjLE7fnVY&feature=youtu.be

A group of us watched from the balcony at Chediview and they were still going up at 11:00 when we retired.  

I have to say that I have never cycled in conditions remotely like what is normal for Chiang Mai.  Even Mexico City pales by comparison.  Cycling on those festival nights was even wilder.  But it seems to just happen, a dance of cars, scooters, motorcycles and a few bikes, weaving and dodging and somehow seeming easy.