Hundreds partake in Thailand's lotus throwing festival Thousands toss and throw lotuses onto a boat procession carrying an image of a revered monk, marking the end of the Buddhist lent in Samut Prakan, south of Bangkok. The cheerful festival originated from a riverside culture where villagers fresh-picked the finest lotuses, once abundant in the area, and pass on to those who sailed to make a merit at temple as the lent period's ending. The lotus is a symbol of purity in Hinduism and Buddhism and incorporated into many ceremonies in Thailand. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES