On the day before the full moon of the 11th lunar month, people would stop working and begin preparing for the celebrations. Cows and buffalos were also given the day - off in appreciation of their hard work over the months. It was a time to test! Villagers would up their buffalos in colorful clothes and eye - catching accessories. Men would exchange their normal dark farmer's clothes for the colorful "Yee Kae" costumes; put diamond bands on their foreheads and powder their faces.