Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a major city in the northern region of Thailand. It is situated approx. 700 km north of Bangkok. It has its own very distinctive culture, arts, festivals and traditions.
One famous festival in Chiang Mai is Loi Krathong (known locally as Yi Peng): Held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar (in 2009 Loi Krathong festival? in Chiang Mai will be held on 1st to 3rd November). Every year thousands of people assemble floating banana-leaf containers (krathong) decorated with flowers and candles onto the waterways of the city to worship the Goddess of Water. Lanna-style sky lanterns (khom fai) are launched into the air. These are believed to help rid the locals of troubles and are also taken to decorate houses and streets.
        
Floating krathong decorated with flowers and candles onto the River

Lanna-style: Letting a Khom Fai float in to the air