Chiang Mai, Thailand

30 May – 5 June 2019

Also known as Lak Mueang Festival, the annual weeklong festival can be traced back to the Lawa people, the ethnic group who lived in northern Thailand before Chiang Mai was founded. According to legend, the guardian deity Indra gifted the city with a city pillar to protect and bring prosperity to its people. The festivities centre around Wat Chedi Luang in the old town, where locals offer alms and flowers to pay homage to the city pillar and make merit. Outside the temple, the festival is marked with carnival games, food stalls, and cultural performances