Water Festival

Thai girl Sawanya Seesura prays before releasing a traditional Krathong float into a pool during the Loy Kratong festival in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. Every year when the moon is full and the rainy season draws to an end, Thailand's waterways fill with millions of floating lotus-shaped lanterns - a symbolic, centuries-old gesture once meant to placate to the country's goddess of water. This year, flood-ravaged Thailand has plenty of reason to pray for rebirth - and little reason to celebrate. 

A young Thai boy makes his way with Krathong, a small lantern made of banana leafs or paper, to a canal during the Loy Kratong festival at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. The festival, came on the heels of a cataclysmic waterborne disaster that's drowned one-third of the country in three months, killing 529 people and wiping out rice fields and factories and livelihoods along the way. The flooding is the worst in Thailand since World War II, and it's not over yet. Damage so far is likely to exceed $6 billion. Recovery will take months.

Thai citizens buy Krathong, a small lantern made of banana leafs, before floating it in to the river during the Loy Kratong festival at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. The festival, came on the heels of a cataclysmic waterborne disaster that's drowned one-third of the country in three months, killing 529 people and wiping out rice fields and factories and livelihoods along the way. The flooding is the worst in Thailand since World War II, and it's not over yet. Damage so far is likely to exceed $6 billion. Recovery will take months.

Thai people pray before floating Krathong, a small lantern made of banana leafs or papers, into a canal during the Loy Kratong festival at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. The festival, came on the heels of a cataclysmic waterborne disaster that's drowned one-third of the country in three months, killing 529 people and wiping out rice fields and factories and livelihoods along the way. The flooding is the worst in Thailand since World War II, and it's not over yet. Damage so far is likely to exceed $6 billion. Recovery will take months.

A Buddhist monk gives an advice to a man to buy Krathong, a small lantern made of banana leafs or papers, before floating it in to a river during the Loy Kratong festival at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. The festival, came on the heels of a cataclysmic waterborne disaster that's drowned one-third of the country in three months, killing 529 people and wiping out rice fields and factories and livelihoods along the way. The flooding is the worst in Thailand since World War II, and it's not over yet. Damage so far is likely to exceed $6 billion. Recovery will take months. 

Traditional Krathong floats are released into a pool during the Loy Kratong festival in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. Every year when the moon is full and the rainy season draws to an end, Thailand's waterways fill with millions of floating lotus-shaped lanterns - a symbolic, centuries-old gesture once meant to placate to the country's goddess of water. This year, flood-ravaged Thailand has plenty of reason to pray for rebirth .

Thai residents buy Krathong, a small lantern made of paper, before floating it in to the river during the Loy Kratong festival at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. The festival, came on the heels of a cataclysmic waterborne disaster that's drowned one-third of the country in three months, killing 529 people and wiping out rice fields and factories and livelihoods along the way. The flooding is the worst in Thailand since World War II, and it's not over yet. Damage so far is likely to exceed $6 billion. Recovery will take months.

A woman helps her son pray before releasing a traditional Krathong float into a pool during the Loy Kratong festival in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. Every year when the moon is full and the rainy season draws to an end, Thailand's waterways fill with millions of floating lotus-shaped lanterns - a symbolic, centuries-old gesture once meant to placate to the country's goddess of water. This year, flood-ravaged Thailand has plenty of reason to pray for rebirth - and little reason to celebrate.

A Thai woman lights candle and incense sticks to decorate in the Krathong, a small lantern made of banana leafs or papers, before floating it into the water during the Loy Kratong festival at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. The festival, came on the heels of a cataclysmic waterborne disaster that's drowned one-third of the country in three months, killing 529 people and wiping out rice fields and factories and livelihoods along the way. The flooding is the worst in Thailand since World War II, and it's not over yet. Damage so far is likely to exceed $6 billion. Recovery will take months.

Update of Bangkok Flooding

The water level at several places in the Ayutthaya historical park has receded to about 30cm.

This car parked at Wat Sing in Bang Phlat district emerged after the level of floodwater in the district dropped significantly towards the end of last week. 

While the water level at Lat Phrao intersection has made the area impassable for small vehicles, this motorcycle taxi driver now earns his living by paddling a boat and ferrying passengers from one place to another. 

Paddle boats are for sale in the Bang Na area. Prices range from 2,500 to 3,600 baht for small boats and 30,000 to 40,000 baht for larger vessels.

Most shops at the Chatuchak Weekend Market are closed due to flooding. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) has warned staff at Chatuchak, Phahon Yothin, Ratchadaphisek and Lat Phrao subway stations to be on full alert for flooding.

Foreign volunteers and students help raise funds at Ratchaprasong intersection to help flood victims. Although the water level in provinces including Nakhon Sawan, Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani has receded, 18 Bangkok districts have been declared evacuation zones.

Some flooded Bangkokians have been able to catch their dinner in the floodwater. 

Bags of uncollected rubbish fill up a telephone box in the Lat Phrao area, with the smell causing passersby to hold their noses. 

Flood-plagued Thai PM cancels trip to summit in US

A resident wades through floodwaters at Wat Wichitraram temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Thailand's Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

A Thai flood victim pulls a makeshift raft carrying his daughter through murky floodwaters as they return home with relief material distributed at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

Thai residents wade along a flooded slum area at Chatuchak district in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

A Thai woman throws floodwater out of her house in a flooded neighborhood in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

A Buddha's statue sits amidst trash at a half-flooded street corner in Ayutthaya province, central Thailand Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra canceled plans to attend a Pacific trade forum in Hawaii this weekend as she struggled Tuesday to cope with her country's worst flooding in a half-century.

A Thai buddhist monk sits in a chair at flooded Wat Wichitraram temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011.Thailand's energy minister said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

Thai flood victims wade through murky floodwaters with the relief material distributed at a temple in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

A Thai woman cuts ingredients for cooking along a flooded slum area at Chatuchak district in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday Nov. 8, 2011. Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

Residents ride on a fire truck through a flooded street in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011. Thailand's energy minister said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

A Thai policeman directs traffic as he carries a pylon along a flooded street at the Saphan Khwai area in Bangkok, Thailand,Tuesday Nov. 8, 2011. Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

A Thai resident washes himself before climbing up his house along a flooded slum area at Chatuchak district in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday Nov. 8, 2011. Thai Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said the flood crisis in Bangkok is likely to drag on for another month, as authorities issued another evacuation advisory in a northern neighborhood and floodwaters inched further into the city's heart.

Thai men ride a makeshift raft through a flooded neighborhood in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, Nov. 7, 2011. The water slowly advancing through Bangkok's northern and western neighborhoods is threatening the city's subway system, two key industrial estates and the emergency headquarters set up to deal with the flooding.