In pictures: Thailand’s floating basket festival, a celebration of water Goddess

Loy Krathong, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an annual festival celebrated with great fervour in Thailand. On this momentous day, people gather around lakes, rivers and canals to release krathongs and seek forgiveness for contaminating the water bodies, along with expressing gratitude to the goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha.

November 13, 2022 16:30 IST

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Loy Krathong, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an annual festival celebrated with great fervour in Thailand. On this momentous day, people gather around lakes, rivers and canals to release krathongs and seek forgiveness for contaminating the water bodies, along with expressing gratitude to the goddess of water, Phra Mae Khongkha.

In this picture, a boy places a krathong into a pond at a public park during the Loy Krathong festival, which is held as a symbolic apology to the goddess of the river. (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)

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People pray before releasing krathongs into a pond. (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)

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Women pray before placing krathongs. Locals look forward to the festival every year. (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)

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A man swims in Chao Phraya River as he helps to place a Krathong, or a "floating basket", in the water amid a yearly festival during which rafts of neatly folded banana leaves, decorated with flowers, candles and incense, are offered to thank the water goddess for good luck and for using her water to grow crops and support all life. (Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)

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People pray before releasing krathongs into a pond. The festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Thailand. (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)

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Garbage collectors collect Krathongs or "floating baskets" from Chao Phraya River. (Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)

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A boy swims in Chao Phraya River as he helps to place a Krathong, or a "floating basket", in the water. (Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)

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People place Krathongs or “floating baskets” into Chao Phraya River. This is one of the most picturesque festivals in Bangkok. (Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)

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The Loy Krathong festival is held to pray to the goddess of water in Bangkok, Thailand. (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)

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A man places a Krathong or “floating basket” into Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. (Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)

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People of all ages celebrate this festival in Thailand. (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)

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A couple holds a Krathong or “floating basket” near Chao Phraya river in Bangkok, Thailand. (Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)

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A man holds a Krathong or “floating basket” to make a wish near Chao Phraya river. (Reuters/Chalinee Thirasupa)

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A boy swims in a fountain at Saphan Hin park as he helps to place a Krathong, or a "floating basket", in the water. (REUTERS/Jorge Silva)

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A boy swims in a fountain at Saphan Hin park as he helps to place a Krathong, or a "floating basket", in the water. (REUTERS/Jorge Silva)

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