Yee Peng Loy Krathong Festival Chiang Mai 2009

The headline Yee Peng Loy Krathong Festival Chiang Mai 2009
should better be called: Chiang Mai under fire,
because what was going on in Chiang Mai
was more like a warzone than a festival.

Loy Krathong, in North Thailand also called Yee Peng,
was a beautiful, colourful and spiritual event.
It is been held every year at the time of november fullmoon.
At the evening Thai people go to the rivers and lakes to float (loy)
their krathongs (flower arrangements).
Within the flower arrangement there are 3 incense sticks and a candle.

While the incense sticks and the candle are inflamed,
people are holding the krathong and hope all the bad luck,
the problems and anger from the last year will float away with the krathong
and they will have a better year.
Than they kneel and float the krathong.
Loy, loy krathong….

In North Thailand there is a special variety, the so called Yee Peng.
In addition to the krathong, northern Thai people also release
floating lanterns to the sky. While the festivities the sky of Chiang Mai
is full with thousands of the floating lanterns
and it gives an outstanding and romantic view.

Overshadowed or better characterized was the 2009 Loy Krathong festival
in Chiang Mai by ruthless and irresponsible festival hooligans.
Moving motorbikes has been bombarded by firecrackers
all over the city. This idiots been shooting on people,
which has been on their knees to float their krathongs,
with all kind of explosives.
Our photographer and also other people on the streets
has been attacked by firecrackers, fireworks
and explosives which You probably could call small bombs.
Over the festival days Chiang Mai was a real warzone
the sound of explosions was just drowned out
by the sirens of the ambulance cars,
which has been running around town the whole time.
How many people has been injured, we don´t know
but we mention a lot.


Picture: A Loy Krathong Hooligan

What You can´t see on the picture,
is that just 2 meters below,
people, also very young children been floating their krathongs,
the fire rain dropped on them.

Also we got injured by burns
and after all that bad experience,
we decided not to participate in Chiang Mai Loy Krathong Festival 2010.
The whole festival is out of order and very dangerous for life and health.