Chiang Mai – Le Festival des fleurs, une tradition toute en couleurs (et d'autres festivals)

La charmante ville de Chiang Mai, surnommée la "Rose du Nord", se pare à partir de vendredi prochain et pendant trois jours de ses plus beaux attraits, à l’occasion du traditionnel Festival des fleurs. Le moment le plus magique de cet évènement sera une grande parade, avec de magnifiques chars de carnaval décorés de sculptures en œillets, chrysanthèmes, bougainvilliers et milliers de sortes d’orchidées. Des danseuses traditionnelles accompagneront la marche, qui partira du pont Nawarat samedi à 10h du matin et se terminera au parc Nong Buak Hat avec un concours de beauté et l’élection d’une "reine des fleurs". Des expositions florales devraient créer dans le parc un véritable carnaval de couleurs et de senteurs. Les amateurs seront ravis car la région, grâce à son climat, est un paradis des fleurs, faisant de ce festival vieux de plus de 30 ans un rendez-vous à ne pas manquer. C’est aussi un endroit privilégié pour découvrir la culture des tribus des montagnes, grâce à des spectacles et des ventes de produits artisanaux.

source http://www.lepetitjournal.com/content/view/52717/2430/

Yi Peng Festival

Every year in Northern Thailand, the locals celebrate the festival of Yi Peng by sending floating lanterns into the night sky. This festival takes place on the full moon of the 2nd month of the Lanna calendar ("Yi" meaning "2nd" and "Peng" meaning "month" in the Lanna language). This festival is often confused with Loy Krathong, which is held on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai calendar, which often results in the festivals coinciding. The Loy Krathong Festival also includes the use of lanterns, however the main focus is on the floating Krathong, that is released into the lakes, rivers and waterways. While Loy Krathong is celebrated in all of Thailand's provinces, the Yi Peng Festival is only celebrated in the North.


Location
This festival takes place just outside the city of Chiang Mai, in the nearby university district of "Mae Jo". The people gather at the Lanna Dhutanka temple, which is roughly a 30 minute drive from downtown Chiang Mai. Outside the temple grounds there are a variety of vendors selling food and drink, as well as lanterns and fireworks, which are not permitted inside the temple grounds. The event organizers offer lanterns for sale at a higher rate, for those who wish to participate in the celebration. The ceremonies begin with the monks arranged on a stage in front of the crowd, chanting and engaging in a moment of prayer, followed by a procession of monks and followers that march around the temple grounds several times. After all the preparations have been completed, the crowd is instructed to light the lanterns and release them simultaneously.

The Lanterns
The lanterns are made of a thin outer layer of rice paper, with a fuel source of waxy material in the bottom center. When lit, the lantern slowly begins to expand with hot air, eventually causing it to rise, as the heat forces the lantern up into the sky. The original design comes from the ancient Chinese, who had used these as weapons of war many years ago. This ingenious design allows for cheap construction, resulting in the lanterns being sold for less than a dollar each.

source http://travelinasia.hubpages.com/hub/yipeng