Yi Peng

Origins and meaning

The observance dates back to the historical Lan Na realm and holds ties to earlier traditions in Haripuñjaya. Although early roots may connect to ancient Indian rites, modern practice focuses on Theravada Buddhist devotion. According to lore, birds once flew around the Buddha with lit torches in their beaks, prompting him to promise them auspicious rebirths. Worshippers today make offerings of fire to venerate the five Buddhas of this cosmic age. Sky lanterns carry prayers toward Phra That Kaew Chulamanee, a stupa in the heavens said to house the Buddha's hair. Releasing these lights symbolizes casting away previous bad luck.

Lanterns and lights

Illumination appears in many forms during the holiday. The best-known objects are khom loi, buoyant lanterns crafted by stretching rice paper over bamboo or metal frames and lighting a fuel cake beneath. Temples and domestic gardens are brightened with hanging lanterns in five sacred colours, signifying the six rays of the Buddha's aura. Small earthenware lamps known as phang pratheep sit along walls and courtyards. Some sanctuaries display revolving lanterns spun by candle heat, while artisans present large, decorated creations in civic craft competitions at the city gates of Chiang Mai.

Temple recitations and rituals

Monasteries serve as the spiritual core of the observance through the Tang Tham Luang ritual. Monks chant the Vessantara Jataka across multiple chapters, retelling the penultimate life of the Buddha. To prepare the sacred space, villagers build forest gateways from banana plants, sugar cane, and palm fronds, evoking the woodland exile of Prince Vessantara. Inside the assembly hall, worshippers place paper animal cutouts, lotus blooms, and water lilies in sets of one hundred. Devotees also construct decorative mazes on monastery grounds to guide pilgrims toward central Buddha images.

The festival schedule

Festivities span three successive lunar dates, opening on Wan Da when families purchase supplies and prepare temple offerings. The second day features sermons, evening chanting, meditation, and the assembly of large communal rafts packed with food for the needy. On the full moon night, celebrations reach their peak. Cities hold illuminated street parades, temple grounds launch traditional fireworks, and thousands of paper lanterns rise into the night. At the riverbanks, worshippers join the broader Thai custom of setting decorated rafts upon the water.

How Yi Peng is kept

Preparations start on Wan Da with market shopping and temple decorating. On the second day, devotees gather at monasteries for chanting, listen to monks recite traditional Buddhist sermons, and craft large food-filled baskets for the destitute. In the evenings, worshippers light small clay lamps, suspend multi-coloured paper lanterns, and launch glowing sky lanterns from courtyards. The event culminates on the full moon with civic float parades, displays of traditional fireworks at shrines, and the dual launching of aerial lanterns and floating water baskets.

When and where

The festival occurs over three days, peaking on the full moon of the second month in the Lanna lunar calendar. This date usually corresponds to the twelfth month of the central Thai calendar and falls in November.

Yi Peng is celebrated across northern Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, and Chiang Rai. Chiang Mai serves as the main centre, hosting massive lantern launches, parades, and craft contests.

What Yi Peng means

Light honours the five Buddhas of the present era and pays homage to the heavenly relic of the Buddha's hair. Releasing a lantern into the sky represents shedding bad fortune, paying debts to ancestors, and asking for clarity and prosperity in coming lives. The five original lantern colours symbolise the six rays of the Buddha's aura, which traditional folklore held would deter harmful spirits.

Days Yi Peng is marked

Questions people ask about Yi Peng

See also

Loy KrathongA Thai festival of floating leaf baskets on rivers to honor water and release negativity.Double Ninth FestivalAn autumn festival of mountain walks, chrysanthemum wine and ancestor remembranceThai funeralBuddhist rites in Thailand featuring water blessings, temple chanting and cremation.Eid al-FitrThe feast that ends Ramadan, opened with morning prayers, sweets and visits home

Good reading and sources

• Yi Peng festival on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.