Tak Bat Devo

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

Elaborate carved wax sculptures are paraded and donated to temples at the start of Buddhist Lent. Ubon Ratchathani's festival features massive, intricate candle sculptures.

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

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.

Annual feast laid out for the thousands of macaques that inhabit Lopburi. Two tons of fruit, vegetables, and sweets are arranged in elaborate displays for the monkeys.