Buddhist devotees threw lotus flowers on passing boats with statues for a festival in Thailand.

Footage shows excited locals tossing hundreds of white buds on the ceremonial vessel that carried Buddha and monk figures in Samut Prakan province on October 9.

Superstitious devotees believed that landing a flower on monk ‘Father To's' statue would grant them a wish.

The event is observed at the annual 'Throw Lotus Festival' at the end of Buddhist Lent.

Festival-goer Jai Ayuttayah said: ‘People came here with different prayers. The lotus throwing symbolizes our hope.'

The ceremonial boat travelled two kilometres with ten other decorated boats on the Samrong Canal towards the Bangplee district office, where locals and visitors could toss lotus flowers in homage.

Bangplee district was once plentiful with lotus flower fields and villagers would collect the flowers and use them to pay tribute to ceremonial occasions.

Residents who lived along the canal started to pay respect to the revered monk Father To, whose statue was being floated along the Chao Praya river. It became that the statue stopped by the Bangplee Yainai temple until the lotus tossing festival was held yearly.

More than ten thousand people attended the event this year, including tourists.