Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand

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Hope takes flight. Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand

As twilight descends today, Chiang Mai, Thailand's second-largest city, will come alive with thousands of glowing lanterns for Yi Peng. Held on the full moon of the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar—a calendar that dates back to the medieval Lanna Kingdom of Northern Thailand—this celebration signifies the removal of negativity and the embrace of new beginnings. The highlight of the festival is the release of 'khom loi' or 'khom loy'—floating paper lanterns—into the night sky, creating a beautiful sight as the heavens fill with a sea of warm, golden lights. Locals and visitors gather around temples and palaces to send their wishes skyward, hoping for good fortune in the year to come. In addition to the lantern release, the city is adorned with vibrant parades, traditional dance performances and stunning decorations.

Yi Peng is similar to our festival of lights, Diwali, when families light diyas (oil lamps) and candles around their homes, perform Lakshmi Puja to seek blessings from the goddess of wealth and enjoy festive meals and sweets. Both festivals emphasise the importance of light, community and renewal. They are times for people to come together, reflect on the past and look forward to the future with hope and positivity.