Locals made hundreds of candles for an upcoming lantern festival in Thailand.

Residents gathered at the Lanna Museum in northern Chiang Mai province to make the 'pang prateep' - small candles in clay pots - to be used for the Yi Peng Festival.

To make the candles, the villagers first chop up blocks of wax, which are then melted in large metal basins. The liquid is transferred into the numerous clay containers, each with a cotton wick in the centre.

During the festival, the pang prateep are lit and placed along streets and temples around Chiang Mai City to worship Buddha, the Thai water goddess Mae Phra Khongkha, and to pay homage to the founders of the city.

Authorities said they expect Chiang Mai to be illuminated with more than 100,000 pang prateep this year.

The Yi Peng Festival is a traditional Thai festival that usually takes place on the full moon of the twelfth month in the Thai lunar calendar, which is typically in November. The festival is celebrated primarily in northern Thailand, especially in the city of Chiang Mai.

One of the main highlights of the Yi Peng Festival is the release of thousands of sky lanterns into the night sky. These lanterns, often made of rice paper and bamboo, are lit with a flame inside and released to float gracefully into the air.

The lantern release is accompanied by prayers and wishes for good fortune, and the sight of thousands of lanterns floating in the night sky is considered a symbol of letting go of misfortunes and starting anew.