Yi Peng: Northern Thailand's Lantern Festival

Yi Peng is a three-day festival ending on the full moon of the second Lanna lunar month. Three days to watch one moon.

Yi means 2; peng means full moon day. It began in the Lan Na Kingdom between the 13th and 18th centuries.

Releasing it frees misfortune and past troubles.

One legend describes birds circling the Buddha with lit torches. Carrying lit torches in beaks seems impractical.

Khom loi are floating lanterns made from fabric over bamboo or wire frames. A fuel cell heats air inside to lift them.

Releasing a lantern offers light to a stupa holding Buddha's hair relic.

In modern Chiang Mai, Yi Peng coincides with Loy Krathong. Locals release sky lanterns and float decorated rafts on the Ping River.

Temples like Wat Chedi Luang display hanging lanterns and earthen lamps called phang pratheep. Laos adopted the custom in the 16th century.