Chiang Mai Information

Festival
          If the travelers come to Chiang Mai city, I don’t want they miss to come on the festivals. Even I, local person, have to accept Chiang Mai’s festivals are very wonderful. You might think that the festivals in Thailand are the same and why I have to decide to go to Chiang Mai. Then you will get the answer that “You are wrong”. Actually, not all of festivals in Thailand are the same and besides, every part of Thailand also has the own styles of each place. You will have fun with finding out the differences by visiting and enjoy those festivals.

• Songkran  Festival The most popular festival in the world is Songkran Festival. It’s the most frenetic festival in the country, the Luna New Year. It’s held from 13th to 15th April in each year. If you plan to come here on this festival, it’s very necessary to plan and book everything in advance (flight and accommodation) because you won’t get many troubles with many travelers who also come here. Traditionally it was celebrated by Buddha images being bathed with water and the showing of respect to monks and elders. From the sprinkling of water onto someone’s hands as a sign of respect it has evolved into mass drenching for anyone who decides to venture outdoors.Surely I have to correct some food before those days in order to not getting wet when I go shopping on those days. This festival can be one of the friendliest, though wet. It’s a great way to make new friends and get wet together.

• Loi Kra-Thong One of the most beautiful and moving sights are the festivities relating to the annual festival of Loi Kra-Thong held in November. As the moon rises in the evening, a small lotus-shaped raft of banana leaves filled with flowers, candle, a snip of your nail, a piece of your hair, and a few coins, is set afloat in the ocean or down a waterway begging good luck for the forthcoming year. The best Kra-Thong must be made of banana leaves or bread so that becoming food for the fish. In Chiang Mai, there is releasing the large paper hot-air balloons. It’s like you cast away your troubles and call in the hopes of the future. One thing of Loi Kra-Thong is to “thank” to the water. However, this day is one day I enjoy with Loi Kra-Thong, releasing the balloons, and playing fireworks.

Custom
          Chiang Mai is also the capital of Lanna in Thailand. Every part has its own style of custom to show how is different in each place. And I think it’s very interesting to learn about the customs in wherever I visit. It’s like you get more knowledge about that place and the trips are more fun. In this topic, firstly I would like to tell you northern custom that you’d see only in here. And second is “Wai”, that it’s the most important and main custom in Thailand. Even one time you come here, it’s very useful to know about it.

• Kwang Fighting Tradition (Beetle Fighting)
  Kwang is a kind of beetle with six legs. Male have horns on their head that have jagged edges while the female has no horns. They eat the juice from sugar cane and other plants. The Kwang that are chosen to fight are called Kwang-Song.
  Free from farming duties during the rainy season (around July to October), northern Thai people gather together to set a fighting of their own Kwang. If you would like to see or join this activity, visit Chiang Mai during this period and go to the lawn situated on Kaew Nawarat Road. Come and Join together.

• Wai
  The Wai is one of the most famous of symbols that people recognize as being “Thailand”. To do it right is almost an art form and something that many Thais take great care to express properly and sincerely. Normally, we always wai to people who are older than us, monk and teacher. Although nowadays Thai people continuously forget about this custom, it’s still the one way to show Thai people. And people wai to each other in every part of Thailand.

Culture
          Chiang Mai culture is also interesting topic for the foreigners. I have been in here for all my life and never move to be any place in Thailand. Actually, I would like to do but even in my hometown, I have not known all of my culture. So, I decide to learn more as much as possible. It’s hard to know more but I think it’s very wonderful. I have two examples of Chiang Mai’s culture for you to consider, maybe you plan to be there in next trip.

• Inthakin (City Pillar Adoration)
  This formality is very important for Chiang Mai. We normally have a city pillar adoration ceremony once a year on May or June (rainy days). We believe that the pillar is very strong and we adore having constant lives. And we also sacrifice the city pillar on rainy season to let through year have a better agriculture. Many people come to joy the activities which come with this ceremony.

• Khi-Yo, Po-Ya-Khuen (Cigarettes)
  Poh-ui (grandpa) rolls his cigarettes and will arrange the tobacco on the Bai-Tong-Jor (dried banana leaf to enhance its menthol favor. These local cigarette ingredients are widespread all over the Lanna area and are always kept in an iron box called Poh-Ya-Khuen. This is the daily activity of old Chiang Mai people which it’s quite difficult to see. Nowadays, people have modern cigarettes so that they forget about the old one. However, some people and place try to decorate the entrance with dry are-nut, cigarettes, and cheroots indicate the hospitality of Lanna people welcoming every visitor.