Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand Nov 15, 2024

As twilight descends today, Chiang Mai, Thailand"s second-largest city, will come alive with thousands of glowing lanterns for Yi Peng. Held on the full moon of the second month of the Lanna lunar calendar—a calendar that dates back to the medieval Lanna Kingdom of Northern Thailand—this celebration signifies the removal of negativity and the embrace of new beginnings. The highlight of the festival is the release of "khom loi" or "khom loy"—floating paper lanterns—into the night sky, creating a beautiful sight as the heavens fill with a sea of warm, golden lights. Locals and visitors gather around temples and palaces to send their wishes skyward, hoping for good fortune in the year to come. In addition to the lantern release, the city is adorned with vibrant parades, traditional dance performances and stunning decorations.

© tampatra/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

You otter check this out
Nov 15, 2023Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Nov 15, 2025Irohazaka Road in autumn, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 16, 2025Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United States
Aug 1, 2024Floating fruit market, Kaptai Lake, Rangamati, Bangladesh
Apr 3, 2024Munnar, Kerala
Sep 27, 2024Basilica of Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Italy
Nov 29, 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Jul 10, 2024Collared aracari
Sequoias of the sea
May 15, 2024The Blue City of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Sep 17, 2024Mid-Autumn Festival
Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
Apr 12, 2024Arches National Park, Utah, USA
Happy New Year’s from down under
Apr 11, 2024Eid al-Fitr
Gateway to Latin America
Apr 13, 2024Apple trees in spring, Germany
Jul 29, 2025International Tiger Day
Apr 20, 2024Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
Dec 1, 2023Ross Sea, Antarctica
May 12, 2024Mothers Day
When just a pinch of salt won’t do
Oct 3, 2023Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Stop and smell the sakura
Jun 27, 2024Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence
May 1, 2025Maharashtra Day
The sea that acts like a lake
May 18, 2025International Museum Day
Dec 14, 2023Boreal owl
A real fun guy…er, squirrel
Fly me to the moon
Oct 29, 2024Great horned owl