A woman prepares to set afloat a water lantern in Chao Phraya River for peace and luck in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Oct. 31. 2020, the annual Loy Krathong festival. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
BANGKOK, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- Lotus-shaped water lanterns are set afloat in Chao Phraya River, floating lanterns light up Chiang Mai's sky, and about 100,000 colorful lanterns are hanging in the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Lamphun. Thailand celebrates the traditional lantern festivals -- Loy Krathong festival and Yi Peng festival.
Loy Krathong, known as the floating lantern festival, and Yi Peng, known as the sky lantern festival, are two of Thailand's most famous festivals that take place on the same day.
In the year of 2020, Loy Krathong takes place on October 31 while Yi Peng takes place on both October 31 and November 1. These celebrations are both light festivals that take place on the full moon day in November.
At the Loy Krathong festival, people set afloat lotus-shaped rafts adorned with candles, incense and flowers, known as Krathongs, while wishing a year's bad luck to be washed away by the waters.
Yi Peng is a festival unique to northern Thailand. Local people would light lanterns and release them into the sky to make a wish for good fortune in the new year.
Locals prepare to set afloat water lanterns in Chao Phraya River for peace and luck in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Oct. 31. 2020, the annual Loy Krathong festival. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
Girls in traditional Thai costumes pose with water lanterns near Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, Oct. 31. 2020, the annual Loy Krathong festival. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)
People release a sky lantern to make a wish for good fortune during the traditional Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Oct. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
People release sky lanterns to make a wish for good fortune during the traditional Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Oct. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
People release sky lanterns to make a wish for good fortune during the traditional Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Oct. 31, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
Aerial photo taken on Oct. 31, 2020 shows released sky lanterns floating in sky during the traditional Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
People view lanterns at the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Lamphun, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
People take photos with lanterns at the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Lamphun, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
A girl hangs a lantern at the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Lamphun, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
People hang lanterns at the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Lamphun, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
Colorful lanterns are seen at the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Lamphun, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
Colorful lanterns are seen at the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Lamphun, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren)
Colorful lanterns are seen at the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai in Lamphun, Thailand, Nov. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Zhang Keren) ■
