According to locals, making lanterns or donating them to temples is a virtuous act and a means of earning karma for the next life.
The Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Thailand looks like a scene straight out of a movie. Thousands of paper lanterns ( khom loy) rise up against the backdrop of a full moon in Chiang Mai to mark the end of monsoons in the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar (usually November), on a full moon night. According to locals, making lanterns or donating them to temples is a virtuous act and a means of earning karma for the next life. Initially celebrated as a standalone event, this unique festival is now complemented by the Loy Krathong festival, where people make krathong or decorated baskets to float in the river as an offering to the Goddess of Water, Phra Mae Khongkha.