Fire and water

This past weekend, Chiang Mai had massive celebrations for both Loy Krathong and Yi Ping. (For more on Yi Ping, read Ryan's recent post here). During the Loy Krathong festival, a small raft is made out of banana leaves, stalks, flowers, candles and incense, and then released into the water. In Chiang Mai, all of the Krathong float down the Ping river, the main river in the city. The holiday is meant to symbolize letting go of negative thoughts and habits, and many Thais also believe that releasing a Krathong brings you good luck Near the river you could also buy small bags of live fish, eels, or turtles, and release them as well.

Loy Krathong is also seen as a way to give gratitude to the goddess of water. During this celebration they give thanks for the life that water brings the people, and it's also a way of saying "I'm sorry" for using and polluting the water. It's interesting that it takes place at the beginning of the dry season in Thailand...I think usually the Thais want to please the water goddess in hopes that they get a short dry season in return! However this year, I'm sure the water goddess heard lots of prayers for no more floods in Southern Thailand.

Chiang Mai was crazy this past weekend, with tons of extra visitors, lanterns in the sky, Krathong rafts floating down the river, parades...you name it. Despite the fact that most of the fireworks here are homemade and tend to explode at or just above eye level, it was a pleasant and beautiful weekend!

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Buddhist novice monks helping us light our lantern.

Parade + watching lanterns float up in the sky + foot massage along parade route = best combo ever!

Lantern speks at a distance

Lighting and releasing my Krathong (which I made here!)

Baggies of fish and turtles ready for release