Thousands of candles were lit for an annual Buddhist lantern festival in northern Thailand.

Footage shows folk dancers in traditional costumes performing on the streets as they held candles for the Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai province on Monday.

The dance was a tribute to the late 'Queen Mother' Sirikit, who passed away on October 24.

A candle-lighting event was later held at the Three Kings Monument, where some 10,000 locals and tourists placed lit candles called 'phang' along the ancient city walls.

Devotees offer the candles to Buddha, believing their lights guide worshippers. This year, the candles were lit instead of releasing floating sky lanterns to reduce waste.

The Yi Peng Festival is a traditional Thai celebration in northern Thailand where thousands of lanterns are released into the sky to symbolise letting go of misfortune. It coincides with the similar Loy Krathong Festival, where lanterns and floating baskets are released into bodies of water to honour deities.