The festival starts in the evening when there is a full moon in the sky. People of all walks of life carry their Krathongs to the nearby rivers. 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 sight.A Beauty Queen Contest is an important part of the festival and for this occasion. it is called "The Noppamas Queen Contest". Noppamas is a legendary figure from the Sukhothai period. In Bangkok, major establishments such as leading hotels and amusement parks organise their Loy Krathong Festival and the Krathong contest as mojor annual function.