Bangkok: The black flowers initially set up for the Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai have been dismantled, and confusion has arisen over the upside-down installation of Yi Peng lanterns. Chiang Mai Municipality explained that the black flowers were dismantled and will be re-installed closer to the festival. However, the discovery of an upside-down Yi Peng lantern has left residents puzzled about whether it was a mistake or a new artistic expression.
According to Thai News Agency, officials acted swiftly at 8:00 PM on October 28, 2025, to remove the black flowers that adorned the eastern median road at the foot of Nawarat Bridge in Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province. The removal followed a dramatic public outcry over the use of black paint on the flowers, initially installed as decorations on October 24, 2025. The flowers were painted black in mourning for Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, but the decision faced widespread disapproval.
The incident gained attention on social media and became national news, prompting Chiang Mai Mayor Ashni Buranupakorn to convene a meeting to modify the decorations, including those at the moat, Tha Phae Gate, and Chang Phueak Gate. Mayor Atsanee Buranupakorn revealed that officials planned to revise the color scheme to include white flowers, as mentioned in an earlier interview. The removal of the black flowers aimed to prevent inconvenience to officials amid the surge of residents and tourists visiting the site.
Concurrently, social media users highlighted another issue with the upside-down installation of silver Yi Peng lanterns around Chang Phuak Gate. Photos demonstrated how the Lanna style lanterns should be correctly displayed. The inverted installation led to discussions among villagers and experts, with some suggesting it might be an incomplete decoration or a creative choice.
The news team inspected the site at Chang Phuak Gate and confirmed that the lanterns had their four pointed tops turned downwards, while the tails were pointing upwards. Experts in Lanna art and culture indicated that such installations may have been mounted upside-down in the past, but the reasons behind this remain unclear.
The situation has prompted a wait for clarification from the event’s organizers, as the Yi Peng festival approaches, scheduled for November 4-6, 2025. The community anticipates redesigned and appropriately decorated installations that align with traditional aesthetics.