ASIA: Illuminating times

This ritual is one of the signature traditions in Thailand's Loy Krathong festival, which always falls in the month of November, on a full moon night. "[Loy]" means to float and a "krathong" is a floating decoration, traditionally made from banana tree wood and leaves and carrying offerings of incense, lotus flowers and coins. As it floats away, legend says that the water spirits are carrying away bad luck and sin.