Chapter 79

• Thousands of paper lanterns, khom lay, drifted into the full moon sky in Chiang Mai province of Northern Thailand on the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar. The Yen Peng festival also called the ‘Festival of lights' was adopted from Brahmin origins and had close ties with the ancient Lanna Kingdom. The festival lasted for three days in the province marking the end of the monsoon season and the beginning of the cool season. Once a stand-alone festival, the Yen Peng was now celebrated in tandem with Lou Krathong …
• Residents and tourists trooped to the Thapae Gate holding paper lanterns. Making or donating khom loy was significant in the rich Buddhist community. It was a way of moving from light to darkness. Participants made a wish before releasing their lanterns and believed their miseries were over.
• In the mornings of the festival, novice monks released giant sky lanterns, khom fai, which had firecrackers attached to them. Residents of the province heard the clapping sounds of the firecrackers as they exploded in the air. Khom loy were released all around Chiang Mai from evening till the early hours of the morning.