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:

Apr 24, 2021A garden of prickly delights
Dec 11, 2022Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada
Apr 13, 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
Feb 25, 2020Jazzed for Mardi Gras
Aug 26, 2018From pirate port to nature preserve
Aug 10, 2022Joshua Tree National Park
Sep 22, 2023World Rhinoceros Day
Jul 4, 2023Happy Independence Day!
Jan 6, 2023Black Fell in England s Lake District
Mar 24, 2025African bush elephants in Namibia
Aug 29, 2019Greetings from Asbury Park
Aug 12, 2025World Elephant Day
Nov 11, 2020Honoring our veterans
Jun 30, 2023Brown bears in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska
May 31, 2024Gunnerside, Yorkshire Dales National Park, England
Jun 6, 2019Engineering an artificial harbor in Normandy
Nov 7, 2019Paris is photo-ready this week
Jul 7, 2018The Grand Départ: Tour de France begins
Nov 30, 2024Saint Andrews Day
May 29, 2018The first ascent
Jun 27, 2019The roots of invention
Feb 5, 2026Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
Jun 19, 2023Juneteenth
Nov 2, 2021Day of the Dead
Dec 18, 2018A hit ballet, long after its debut
Jun 5, 2021Bird s-eye view on World Environment Day
Feb 27, 2020Three cheers for polar bears!
Jun 3, 2024World Bicycle Day
Nov 27, 2020Green is the new black
Oct 7, 2025Fall colors below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado