Lantern festival in Thailand

Lantern festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

In Thailand sky lanterns are often traditionally made from oiled rice paper on a bamboo frame. They may also be constructed from other lightweight papers. The source of hot air is usually a small candle or fuel cell composed of a waxy combustible material lit and which usually stays lit despite the surrounding air currents. The Thai name is khom fai. Many areas of Asia, however, do not permit sky lanterns because of widespread fire hazards as well as danger to livestock.