Loi Krathong; Yi Peng

The full moon of the twelfth lunar month. A small basket made of banana leaves with a candle, incense and a coin is set afloat on the water — this is a tribute to the water goddess Phra Mae Khongkha and a request for forgiveness for what has been done to the water. Hair or cut nails are sometimes placed inside, so that whatever is bad floats away with them. In Chiang Mai, Yi Peng happens at the same time, lanterns released into the sky. The full moon falls on 24 November 2026; the Chiang Mai programme runs 24–26 November and Sukhothai starts earlier, on 15 November, inside the historical park. The 2027 date is not announced yet — it follows the lunar calendar and moves every year.