Buddhist devotees made colourful floats from corn for the annual Loy Krathong festival in Thailand.

Footage shows residents in Bangkok today as they create edible environmentally friendly lanterns with bright designs to prepare for the religious event next week on November 8.

The eco-friendly floats can be eaten by fish and turtles in lakes and rivers instead of clogging up the waterways with plastic, banana leaves and candles.

The annual festival, also known as Thailand's Festival of Lights, is celebrated nationwide with followers gathering on the shores of lakes, rivers, canals and beaches to release floating lanterns or 'Krathongs' to worship the Goddess of Water 'Kong Ka'.

Many tourists and westerners join in with the beautiful spectacle, in which incense sticks and candles are added to the baskets of flowers.

oy Krathong is said to have started in the 12th century in the ancient Thai kingdom. Meaning 'to float a basket', it follows the Buddhists belief of paying respect to water spirits.

Since the last century, it has been celebrated annually throughout the Kingdom of Thailand and neighbouring countries such as Laos and Vietnam, where Buddhism is also endemic.

The festival takes place on the evening with a full moon in the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. The exact date of Loy Krathong, also spelled Loi Krathong, varies slightly every year.