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

Yi Peng lantern festival, Chiang Mai, Thailand

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, this celebration is about letting go of negativity and embracing new beginnings. The highlight of the festival is the release of "khom loi" or "khom loy"—floating paper lanterns—into the night sky, which becomes a sea of warm, golden lights. People often write their hopes and dreams on the lanterns. They gather around temples and palaces to send their wishes skyward, hoping for good fortune in the year to come.

© tampatra/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Nov 15, 2018‘Ocian in view! O! The joy.’
Nov 15, 2019Mesmerizing murmuration
Nov 15, 2020What’s blooming in New Zealand?
Nov 15, 2021Manatee Awareness Month
Nov 15, 2022River otters at Acadia National Park, Maine
Nov 15, 2023Rapa Valley in Sarek National Park, Sweden
Nov 15, 2025Irohazaka Road in fall, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 6, 2026Nuuk, Greenland
Jan 15, 2021It s truffle season here in the Dordogne Valley
Sep 17, 2020Citizenship Day and Constitution Day
Apr 1, 2025National Frog Month
Apr 16, 2021 A theatrical dream
Feb 26, 2023Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Mar 21, 2018Celebrating the International Day of Forests
Jul 15, 2025Perseid meteor shower over Nevada
May 12, 2025An iris garden in Tokyo, Japan
Apr 27, 2020That s quite a schnoz, baby tapir
Oct 13, 2020Where can you find a red fox?
Nov 19, 2018A narrow passage
Jan 25, 2020Happy New Year! (Again!)
Nov 14, 2022Castle ruins on the island of Halki, Greece
Sep 25, 2025Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
Feb 13, 2020Midwinter freeze
Jul 5, 2021How green is my valley
Oct 28, 2021Necropolis of Dargavs
Nov 26, 2020Happy Thanksgiving from an expert face-stuffer
May 13, 2023World Migratory Bird Day
Jan 11, 2019Life in a North African town
Apr 22, 2021Gazing down on planet Earth
Jul 13, 2023International Rock Day
Aug 5, 2023Atlantic puffin, Iceland
Apr 6, 2019Make way for robots
Feb 14, 2020Two rocks and a heart spot
Nov 5, 2022Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
Jan 16, 2022Hot and Spicy Food Day
May 22, 2020The scene of a literary crime
Apr 1, 2021Why do elephants hide in trees?