Buy Air Tickets to Chiang Mai to Partake In Heavenly Festivals
Thailand loves festivals and the festivals of Chiang Mai would go down as some of the most high-spirited and multi-coloured. Loy Krathong and Yi Peng Lantern festivals are the most popular ones that lure merrymakers into buying air tickets to Chiang Mai. Date : Friday, January 13, 2012
Chiang Mai, one of the most culturally significant cities in Thailand, is a splendid holiday destination that attracts people from all over. This picturesque city is a treasure trove of tranquil temples, enriching museums and unique gastronomic affair. The city exotically conflates ancient charms with ultra-modern conceptions!
Rightfully nicknamed the 'Rose of the North', Chiang Mai is an appealing city steeped deep in history and traditions complemented with giddying waterfalls and eclectic markets. The awing exquisiteness of the city makes even the most discerning of tourists struggle hard to avert Chiang Mai from their itineraries. The thrilling elephant safaris, adrenaline gushing sports and myriad colourful festivals truly confer everything needed for a blissful holiday.
Thailand, undoubtedly, is a festal kingdom that celebrates and hosts numerous colourful events and festivals. Although, there is no dearth of excuses for buying air tickets to Chiang Mai, the amazingly colourful festivals add massively to the popularity of the place where people head for a peaceful sojourn after an encounter with Bangkok's frenzied tempo of life!
The most popular festivals, the Loy Krathong and Yi Peng festivals in Chiang Mai usually set the sky on fire with flying lanterns, fireworks and waterways full with floating boats, truly making for a heavenly sight one would have only dreamt of.
Loy Krathong
The setting for Loy Krathong can only be described as otherworldly. Amative, mesmeric and entrancing festival, Loy Krathong sets the city on a beauty furore with colourful boats floating into the river and the constant rumble of cloud-kissing and heart-pounding fireworks.
The most romantic celebration, Loy Krathong takes place on the full moon night of the 12th lunar month. Thai word 'Loy' means 'to float', while 'Krathong' is a small boat, made from a section of banana tree trunk. Thais redecorate the Krathongs with intricately-folded banana leaves, candles, colours, flowers and aromatic incense sticks. The general idea behind Loy Krathong festivities is to persuade the local serpent-god to halt the rains, dissipate the floods and return the rivers to their peaceful ways.
The act of floating Krathongs on rivers marks the cleansing tradition, which typifies relinquishing grievances and problems in order to start life afresh. Thais partake in old traditions of offerings prayers and presents to holy spirits to obtain the forgiveness of sins. The traditional Thai folklores encourage Thais to hail the holy spirit of fortune or 'sanook' - something that is not unheard of in Thailand.
Although celebrated nationwide, Loy Kratong is a phenomenal crowd puller in Chiang Mai, where hordes of tourists with air tickets to Chiang Mai turn up to get bewitched with charisma of the festivities.
The most far-famed facet of this merriment festival is the making of Krathongs of different shapes and sizes. The unique sight of Krathongs floating in the River Ping offers visitors a true slice of Thailand's multi-coloured traditions. Visitors also get to experience a range of the action-packed events like traditional Lanna songs, dance performances, raft and boat races during this festival.
Yi Peng Lantern Festival
Yi Peng Lantern Festival is a popular festival that coincides with Loy Krathong festival. This incredible festival spells pure joy and incessant celebrations tempting festivalgoers from far and wide to buy tickets to Chiang Mai. This traditional festival in Chiang Mai witnesses thousands of eclectic Khom Loi (sky lanterns) floating in the air.
This thriving city hosts multitude of exciting and entertaining light and sound displays, thrilling boat races, amazing rafts competitions, etc during this fest to entertain the guests. Yi Peng Lantern Festival makes for the best time to immerse in Thai cultural conundrum.
The city gets stuffed with astonishing sights, awing sounds and heavenly smells during this festival. Myriad unusual rituals are staged to grace this occasion like the launching of Lanna-style hot air 'lantern balloons'. As per the traditional folklores, the floating of these huge hot air balloons helps to shoo off the troubles of those launching it.
Additionally, awe-inspiring traditional plays and cultural performances emblazon and add ebullience to the Yi Peng Lantern Festival. Yet another alluring charm is the banana leaf boat contest, which is held on full moon night of the Yi Peng Lantern Festival at the Ping River.
The final night of Yi Peng Lantern Festival is considered to be the most special of all days. On this night, a magnanimous procession of 'Krathong Yai' (huge krathong floats) is held in the city's streets. The gigantic floats are brilliantly embellished, with delineations of Lord Buddha, history, Thai art and literature.
During the Yi Peng Lantern Festival, the quaint and quiet streets of Chiang Mai become hedonistically alive with ménages and shops. River Ping is decorated with bright lights and lanterns. The eternal festivities, the wonderful festive spirit and brimming exuberance beguile tourists to buy airline tickets to Chiang Mai and enjoy the amazing Yi Peng Lantern Festival!
