Beautiful floating baskets drift into the river in Xiamen, Fujian province, at Loi Krathong (floating basket festival), a traditional Thai festival that falls on the 15th day of the 12th lunar month of the Thai calendar, or Nov 6 in 2014. [Photo / China Daily ]

A special celebration for the Thai traditional festival, Loi Krathong, or basket floating festival, was held by the Xiamen Royal Thai Consulate-General on Nov 6.

As a highlight of this year’s celebration, exchange students from Xiamen University, the Confucius Institute of Xiamen University and Jimei Middle School of Xiamen put on an outstanding show consisting of singing, dancing and martial arts performances.

Exchange students perform Thai traditional dances at a Loi Krathong (floating basket festival) celebration on Nov 6 in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo / China Daily]

The floating baskets use plants instead of plastic to satisfy both the festival celebration and environmental protection.

Loh Tuck Keat, consul-general of Singapore, and Huang Feng, director of the Xiamen municipal government foreign affairs office, float baskets together at a Loi Krathong (floating basket festival) celebration on Nov 6 in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photo / China Daily]

The annual event takes place on the evening of the 15th day of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, which falls on Nov 6 in 2014. People throughout the country drift decorated baskets with lit candles into rivers to show their piety to Buddha and pray for blessing and good luck in the following year.