The fun Ritual Lantern Festival comming up on November!

20-22 Nov.2010 There is a big ritual lantern festival called “ Loy Kratong” festival. In Thai”Loy” means to float or release and “Kratong” means a circular floating object with nicely decoration of banana leaves, flowers, a candle and incense sticks. The floating of a Kratong is signifying releasing away ill fortune as well as expressing appologies to River goddess.

There are another interesting activity in this occasion. We will release “Kome Loy” in to the sky. The “Kome Loy” is a drum-size lantern similar to a hot-air-balloon. It is made of lightweight rice paper to be able to float in the air, and in order to send it up, a method to heat the air is included by tying a small receptacle underneath the open section of the lantern. Oil is then placed with a cotton cloth. As the oil catches fire and burns, hot air quickly fills the lantern and it soon rises into the air. Some beliefs that flying Kom Loy to the air could also release all wrongdoings, unlucky and sadness. Sooner the new good things will come to life. Wishes should be made before the kome loys were let go.

There are a lot of other activities in this festival. The activities include a procession and Yi Peng Khom Contest as well as various Krathong designing contests. They will be presented on a fantastic decorative parade together with beautiful ladies from Miss Noppamas beauty contest in the same occasion. Lanterns will be posed and decorated around the temples and houses. Arches will also be set up. In addition, various fun fests will be arranged to participate in; for example, Lanna cultural performances, light and sound presentation, boat racing on the Ping River, and floating of Krathongs.
It is also nice to go shopping in style, finding some artistic decorative items, at the famous Nimmanhemin Road. During this festival, there are musical performances, art exhibitions, demonstrations by shops along the Nimmanhemin Road area including Northern plays, and Lanna style market or Kard Mua.

20th (Sat): 10,000 Sky Lantern at Tudong Satan (Lanna Dhutanka meditation center), near Mae Joe University (about 15km.(20min.) from Sukantara Resort). 10,000 of fire balloons called “Kome Loy” will be set in the same time about 8.00 am. This is special tradition of religious Dhammakaya group. Any visitors can join them. Sky lanterns can be bought there.

21st (Sun): Small Krathong day. Mae ping river will be full of light. For shopping lovers , Tapae Gate is Chiangmai’s main entrance to the old walled city is today the main center of Chiangmai’s public city activities and festivals. Sunday (Walking Street) Market at Thapae road (5pm ~ 11pm) is also nice to visit.

22nd (Mon): Big Kratong Parade at Thapae Road

Under the beauty of full moon night on “Loy Krathong”, Sukantara Cascade Resort & Spa would be decorated beautifully by many kinds of traditional lanterns keeping Northern-Thai Lanna style. “Kratongs” and “Kome Loy”would be prepared for our customers as complimentary to let them enjoy the festival by releasing them on the stream next to the waterfalls.