Candle Festival

Nine-day Taoist festival featuring strict vegetarian eating, white clothing, and extreme acts of devotion including body piercing and fire walking by spirit mediums.

End of the three-month Buddhist Lent period. Marks when monks can travel again. Celebrated with illuminated boat processions, especially in Nakhon Phanom.

Ceremony where monks descend temple stairs in a symbolic reenactment of Buddha's return from heaven. Large offerings are made.

Thailand's most romantic festival. Thais float decorated banana-leaf baskets (krathong) on rivers and waterways to pay respect to the water goddess and release negativity. Celebrated on the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month.

Thai New Year and the world's biggest water fight. Originally a Buddhist cleansing ritual, it has evolved into a massive water battle celebration. The country essentially shuts down for a week.

Vibrant Buddhist festival in Dan Sai featuring colorful ghost masks and costumes. Combines animist traditions with Buddhist celebrations of Buddha's life.