Large crowds gather to take part in the annual Loy Krathong Buddhist festival at the Benchasiri Park in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday November 27.

The ceremony sees residents across the country float baskets decorated with candles and flowers into lakes, ponds, canals, rivers and the sea.

Loy Krathong is said to have started in the ancient Sukhothai kingdom in the 14th century, when the Khmer Empire had retreated from the area that later became Siam.

Meaning 'to float a basket', it follows the Buddhists belief of paying respect to water spirits.

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.