The festival is celebrated as a religious event in which local people throughout the region make merit and other religious activities. The highlight of the event focuses on the launching of the Khom loy or floating lanterns into the night sky with the belief that misfortune will fly away with the lanterns. It is their belief, if the lanterns are made and offered to monks, they will receive wisdom in return as the flame in the lantern is said to symbolise knowledge and the light it gives will guide them to the right path of their lives.