Fun-loving devotees celebrated an annual Buddhist festival by holding fun water boxing games and basin races.

Residents took part in the amusing water sports as they marked the Loy Krathong festival in the Soeng Sang district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast Thailand, on November 9.

Representatives from different villages participated in the contests, accompanied by their relatives who served as cheerleaders.

Video shows rowers competing in a boat race, but using large basins instead of traditional long boats.

They also organised a water boxing event in which contestants sat on a wooden board and tried to knock each other into a pool below.

Village chairman Arcade Waewkratok said: 'This year's festival did not require any financial resources because the entire town contributed in bringing the equipment and manpower.

‘Having our own festival would help decrease traffic accidents and gang violence since people would not have to travel out of town.'

Monks were later invited to sing to Kongka, the water god, and ask for blessings for the locals.

The annual Loy Krathong 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 Kongka.

The practice is believed to have begun 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.