the ceremony is belived to have originated in the time of king ramkhamheang of sukhothai, the first capital of thauland, and to have been started by nang nophamas or tan sri chulalak, the brahman consort of the king. she was the first person who introduced krathongcherm, the festival starts in the eveing when there is a full moon in the sky. people carry their krathongs to the river and canals . after lighting candles and joss sticks and making a wish, they gently place the krathongs on the water and let them drift away till they go out of sigjt. it is believed that krathongs carry away their sins and luck, and happiness will come to them. indeed, it is the time to be joyful and happy as the sufferings are floated away