The most magical photos from this year’s lantern festival in Thailand

Each year, Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand hosts a festival that fills the sky with twinkling lanterns.

The Yee Ping (or Yi Ping) Festival falls on the full moon of the last month of the Thai lunar calendar, which is November. Floating lanterns made of rice paper are released towards the heavens as a symbol of letting go of all misfortunes and illnesses of the previous year. According to Buddhist belief, if you make a wish as you release your lantern, it will come true (as long as you remain on your best behaviour in the new year, of course).

Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to Chiang Mai during this time, packing the charming town to the brim. The three to four-day festival includes live music, dancing, fireworks, ritual ceremonies, and an abundance of selfie sticks. The lanterns light up the skies from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am.

The best sites for spectating include Mae Jo University, Nawarat Bridge, the area around the Ping River or Tha Phae Gate. Some of the popular viewing sites can be quite expensive to enter during the festival, so if that fails, anywhere you can see the skies will be a good start!

The lantern festival is a major bucket list experience and a magical sight to see, but don’t take it from us — here’s a collection of dreamy Instagram photos to prove it!

 

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A post shared by The Exploring Nomads (@theexploringnomads) on Nov 28, 2018 at 8:22am PST

 

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A post shared by You.Iwata@写真展11/17〜30 ソニー名古屋 (@you.iwata) on Nov 27, 2018 at 4:01pm PST

 

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A post shared by Chris Chew (@chrischew) on Nov 29, 2018 at 3:06am PST

 

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A post shared by Creative Travel Couples ✈️ (@creativetravelcouples) on Nov 28, 2018 at 6:54am PST

 

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A post shared by Suz, Ben, & Whit (@obriensabroad) on Nov 23, 2018 at 7:00am PST

 

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A post shared by 유디니🌸 (@eudiny_insta) on Nov 24, 2018 at 5:30am PST

 

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A post shared by JAAJA & SMILEY (@lifewithmuay) on Nov 28, 2018 at 3:10am PST

 

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A post shared by Bucket Listers (@bucketlisters) on Nov 28, 2018 at 2:26pm PST

 

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A post shared by Ambra G. (@amb.gnrt) on Nov 22, 2018 at 9:58am PST

Is the lantern festival on your bucket list? Share your dreamiest travel experiences with us using #dailyhivemapped.