Chiang Mai - Magha Puja Festival

We made a special effort to arrive in Chiang Mai on March 3rd, the day before Magha Puja, the Full Moon Festival. And in fact changed hotels on the morning of the 4th to be closer to the action.

The action was best at Wat Phan Tao and Wat Chedi Luang. Wat Phan Tao is smaller and featured the lighting of candles. Wat Chedi Luang has a huge ruined chedi (stupa) and the preferred activity here is a clockwise circumnavigation of the chedi while carrying incense and lotus flower. Both Wats had services.

The photos and videos: First Wat Phan Tao, then Wat Chedi Luang.

Wat Phan Tao - made of wood, probably teak.


Preparations: Splitting bamboo for fencing.








Lighting candles and torches at Wat Pahn Tao.








And a 35-second video embedded below, and a link here.



Wat Chedi Luang.

Monks arriving.


The great ruined Chedi Luang.






Service and circumnavigation.






And a 20-second video embedded below, and a link here.



And at Wat Phra Singh.