Full Moon Festivals Around the World: Complete Guide to 12 Moonlit Celebrations

Thailand’s double full moon festival — krathong floating on rivers and yi peng lanterns ascending into the sky simultaneously — is the most visually spectacular full moon celebration on Earth. The Chiang Mai Yi Peng mass release involves tens of thousands of rice paper lanterns released at the same moment, turning the sky into a rising constellation. Date 2026: November 7.

Vesak (also called Buddha Purnima or Wesak) marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha — all believed to have occurred on the same full moon day. It is the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar, observed by 500 million Buddhists worldwide. The finest celebrations: Borobudur temple in Indonesia (sunrise ceremony around the world’s largest Buddhist monument), Colombo Sri Lanka (lantern city), Bangkok’s Wat Pho, and Bodh Gaya India (the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree). Date 2026: May 12.

Vesak at Borobudur

The Vesak ceremony at Borobudur — monks circumambulating the 9th century stupa in candlelight, releasing thousands of sky lanterns from the volcano-flanked plain — is one of Asia’s most profound experiences. Tickets are required and limited.

Magha Puja commemorates the occasion when 1,250 monks spontaneously gathered to hear the Buddha speak without prior arrangement — considered a miraculous convergence. In Thailand, worshippers carry candles and walk clockwise around temple bots (ordination halls) three times at sunset. The ceremony at Wat Phra Dhammakaya near Bangkok involves 200,000 participants carrying candles — one of the world’s largest candlelight ceremonies. Date 2026: February 12.

Karthigai Deepam is Tamil Nadu’s festival of lights — celebrated on the full moon of the Tamil month of Karthigai, it involves lighting oil lamps (diyas) throughout homes, temples, and streets. The festival at Thiruvannamalai’s Arunachaleswarar Temple is extraordinary: a giant lamp is lit on top of the 2,668-metre Annamalai hill, visible for 30km, symbolising Shiva’s column of fire. 1 million pilgrims circumambulate the mountain (14km) overnight. Date 2026: December 1.

Sharad Purnima is the harvest full moon festival of northern India — the one night of the year when the moon is believed to be so powerful that food left under moonlight acquires healing properties. Kheer (rice pudding) is prepared and left in the moonlight overnight. The Raas Leela dance (celebrating Krishna’s dance with the Gopis) is performed. In Mathura and Vrindavan, the celebrations last all night with devotional singing and moonlit processions.

Date 2026

Sharad Purnima 2026 falls on October 10.

The world’s most famous beach party — held every full moon (and half moon) on Hat Rin Beach of Koh Phangan island — is a phenomenon that began in 1988 with 30 travellers and now draws 10,000–30,000 people monthly. Neon body paint, fire shows, international DJs, and buckets of mixed alcohol consumed beach-side until dawn. It is simultaneously the most commercial and the most exhilarating full moon event on this list. Smaller but more authentic alternatives: the half moon parties at the jungle venue Half Moon Club.

Raksha Bandhan (the bond of protection) is the Hindu festival celebrating the sibling relationship — sisters tie a sacred thread (rakhi) on their brothers’ wrists, symbolising their bond; brothers give gifts and pledge protection. Celebrated on the full moon of the Hindu month Shravana, it is one of India’s most widespread festivals — observed across religious communities and by diasporas worldwide. The most elaborate celebrations are in Mathura, Varanasi, and Mumbai. Date 2026: August 9.