On Saturday November 16, we will travel together from Mala Dhara, to Chiang Mai. Everyone is free to wander and explore as we like and then we will meet back at the shuttle pick up point to return to the Retreat Center. Of course this is optional and if you prefer to avoid the crowds and stay back at the retreat this is fine. There are also organized "tours" and seated evening shows that you are more than welcome to independently organize if you prefer as more structured tour.

Chiang Mai is one of the best places to experience the festival in all of Thailand. This festival traces its origin back to India.

Loy Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai Lunar Calander, thus the exact date of the festival changes every year.

• During the lantern festivals in Thailand, you will see two iconic scenes: swarms of sky lanterns flying into the night's sky — that is Yi Peng Lantern Festival ; thousands of lotus-shaped baskets with candles and flowers floating on the rivers at night — that is Loy Krathong Festival.
• The two Thai lantern festivals usually occur on the full moon day in November. In 2024, Loy Krathong will take place on November 16 and Yi Peng will take place on November 15/16.
• Loy Krathong Festival is celebrated nationwide while Yi Peng is only celebrated in northern Thailand, especially in Chiang Mai.
• Chiang Mai is the only place where you can see both Thailand's lantern festivals on the same day.

The history behind the festival is complex, and Thais celebrate it for many reasons. As the main rice harvest season ends, it’s time to thank the Water Goddess for a year’s worth of her abundant supply, as well as an apology for polluting the waters.

Some believe that this is the time to symbolically ‘float away’ all the anger and grudges you have been holding onto, and including a fingernail or a lock of hair is seen as a way of letting go of a dark side of yourself, to start anew free of negative feelings. If your candle stays alight until your Krathong disappears out of sight, it means a year of good luck.