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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
January: Sah Paper and Performances |
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January: Umbrella Festival |
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A street fair, featuring products made from sah paper, especially umbrellas; and some stage performances. Takes place at the Bor Sang Village, Sankampaeng District.
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
February: Flowers and Parades |
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February: Flower Festival |
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A festival centered around flowers. Features a parade with beautiful flower boats, a beauty contest, flower displays and judging, gardening techniques, and flowers for sale. Takes place throughout the main city streets and at Buak Hard Park.
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
February: Around the Chedi Under the Full Moon |
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February: Makha Bucha Day |
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An important Buddhist holiday honoring the event when 1,250 of Buddha's disciples congregated without previous agreement. Buddha gave an important sermon at this event. Buddhists carry flowers, lighted candles, and joss sticks while walking around a Chedi at the temple three times under the full moon.
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
April: April's Annual Water War
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April: Songkran (Water Festival) |
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Traditionnaly the Thai New Year, this festival is celebrated by making merit, constructing sand chedis, and pouring lustral water over respected elders and Buddha images. But as the years went by, it became part of the tradition to splash water on one and all....
Torrents of water thrown by pick-ups full of street bandits, complete with shades, bandanas and water-canons of all shapes and sizes. Welcome to Songkran! "Sawadee pee my," (Happy New Year!)
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
May: Mangoes, Mangoes, and more Mangoes |
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May: Mango Fair |
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Held at the Buak Hard Park. Features a beauty contest, mangoes, mangoes, and more mangoes. Takes place for two weeks during May, but which two depends on how late the mango crop is.
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
May: Lynchees and Beauties |
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May: Lynchee Festival |
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Hosted at the Fang district, which grows the largest amount of lynchees in Chiang Mai. Features a beauty contest, and lynchees as well as lynchee trees for sale.
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
May: Visakha Bucha |
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May: Visakha Bucha |
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Chiang Mai Buddhists walk up to Suthep Temple at night to make merit in commemoration of the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha.
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
June: Peace and Rain |
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June: Intakin Festival |
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Held at the Chedi Luang Temple, it lasts a week and is used to ask for peace and rain to fall during the right seasons. The temple holds the city pillar which traditionally marks the center of town.
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
June: Asarnha Bucha and Khao Pansa |
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June: Asarnha Bucha and Khao Pansa |
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Asarnha Bucha: commemorates the first time that Buddha, his teachings, and his disciples were present. On this day Buddhists make merits at temples and sermons are preached. Khao (Enter) Pansa: begins the three months when monks stop travelling and station themselves at a certain temple. Merit is made, and there are floats and a parade. In addition, large candles are given to monks for use during prayer times. |
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
October: Auk Pansa |
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October: Auk Pansa |
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Auk (Exit) Pansa: The end of the three months period when monks are not permitted to travel. An important merit making ceremony is held where monks from several different temples are asked to receive contributions of rice and dry food.
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
November: The magic and enchantment of the Li-Peng Festival |
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Loy Kratong Festival |
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An important Thai festival, it is a way of paying respects to the goddess of the river for the water that was provided, and to repent for dirtying the river. You pay a few baht for a banana leaf boat called a kratong, carrying a candle and a few other bits and pieces (maybe a 10 baht coin), say a few quiet words down at the riverbank with your sweetheart and float it away - along with all your bad luck.
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The little floats with candles laid on the river under the full moon create a beautiful sight. In addition, there are float contests, boat races, and a beauty contest. Lanterns similar to balloons are also lighted and sent drifting up into the sky.
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Travel Guide |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
December: Fruit Carvings and Good Food at Cheap Price |
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December: Chiang Mai Food Festival |
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An annual festival of Chiang Mai's great dishes, the demonstrations on fruit carving and ancient Thai desserts, and beauty Lanna cultural shows. Good food selling at cheap prices.
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