Guided by the light

Ubon Ratchathani is all set for its famed Candle Festival this month, marking the start of Vassa, the annual Buddhist Lent retreat.

The festival, which runs throughout July, culminates with huge, decorated candles being formally presented to local temples in a form of merit making for khao phansa, the Buddhist Lent.

Ubon Ratchathani prepares for the grand event with a series of showcases and activities to draw the visitors to the northeastern province. Arriving at Ubon Ratchathani airport, visitors are treated to a photo exhibition of amazing candle carvings.

The Buddhist Lent, the start of which coincides with the middle of the monsoon season, spans three lunar months during which monks are not allowed to stay overnight outside their own temples. 

According to history, the retreat was the idea of the Lord Buddha and was intended to keep the monk at the temples rather than travelling around and walking on the rice crop during the rainy season. The community thus offers huge candles to their temples, allowing the monks sufficient light by which to meditate and recite the scriptures. If you visit the temple on August 3, you may see Buddhists offering energy-saving light bulbs to the monks – they last longer.

The offering of the candles nonetheless continues, drawing more than 100,000 of tourists to Ubon Ratchathani alone. 

The highlights are the demonstrations of candle carving, an international candle carving competition and the procession of the candles. 

From July 20 to August 5, international artists from Japan, Ukraine, Argentina, among other countries, will compete in a wax-carving competition, and will exhibit their pieces of art at the National Museum in Ubon Ratchathani.

A sightseeing tour of the eight candle-making communities is a must. 

There, along with many local artist and Buddhist devotees, visitors will see the residents cut up and melt beeswax and pour it into moulds to form components of the huge, elaborate candles and their decorations.

On August 2, the parade begins at Thung Sri Muang Park in front of City Hall, where a giant wax pillar stands. More than 50 local temples each prepare a float.

 

      If you go

<< Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani are bridged by many daily domestic flights. Public buses also leave Bangkok daily. Accommodation is always fully booked during the candle festival, so you’re advised to reserve in advance. 

<< For more about the festival, call (04) 524 3770 or visit www.TATUbon.org or www.GuideUbon.com.