Festival of lights

Decorations in the shape of people and elephants were seen on a boat on the Chao Phraya river during the Loy Krathong festival in Bangkok.

Decorations in the shape of people and elephants were seen on a boat on the Chao Phraya river during the Loy Krathong festival in Bangkok on November 21, 2010.

HT Image

Among the traditions associated with the festival are floating of krathongs and launching of hot air balloons. Floating a krathong is supposedly to “thank the river goddess for providing life to the fields and forests and asks for forgiveness for the polluting ways of humans,” according to residents.