13/11/2024
🪔 Yipeng / Loi Krathong 2024 🏮
Although the official festivities don't begin until tomorrow, Thursday November 14, the Candle Dance, a traditional Northern Thai dance, is one of the flagship events of the Chiang Mai Festival of Lights, and it takes place this evening, Wednesday November 13, 2024, from 4pm to 8pm, where no fewer than 35 traditional dance groups will perform, at Three Kings Monument Square (พระบรมราชานุสาวรีย์สามกษัตริย์), here: https://maps. app.goo.gl/HbhcfziLbrUn2aXK9 👈
Hundreds of dancers will be on hand for this most graceful of shows; the dance is usually scheduled after a parade starting at 5:30pm. We're told there will be 728 dancers... The festivities will continue until 10pm in the square in question. You can see some photos of the rehearsals here: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=8557575011030575&id=100003344847397. And here's a sneak preview of what it was like on site last year: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=6612960762122194&id=100002250078899.
As you can see, to fully experience the emotion of this very slowly performed dance, you need to go to Place des Trois Rois 😏
The candle dance (ฟ้อนเทียน, fon thian) is an integral part of the Yipeng tradition specific to the Lanna people, named after the ancient northern kingdom. It is based on the characteristics of various Lanna dances. The dancer holds a lighted candle in each hand. It's usually performed outdoors at night. The more dancers, the more impressive the effect. During the day, it's usually a 'nail dance' that's performed. Originally, this 'candle dance' was probably a dance to worship sacred elements. In the past, it was a ceremony reserved for important royal events; most of the dancers were members of the royal family. The beauty of the dance lies in watching the flickering light of the candles held in the hands. You'll observe the subtle movement of the wrists and, through very slow gestures, the gracefulness of the movements performed. The dancers are dressed in traditional Lanna garb, their hair held in a flower-decorated bun. Traditional musical instruments such as drums and large cymbals provide the musical accompaniment. The most impressive candle dance was once performed in honour of King Prajadhipok - or Rama VII - by dancers trained by Princess Dara Rasmi.
#ฟ้อนเทียน
🙏 Source: City Heritage Centre Chiang Mai Municipal (https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=741027971386015&id=100064364572810)
