CandleThai's Blog
Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival 2008  (July 1 - 31, 2008: At Thung Sri Muang Park and Ubon Ratchathani National Muesum) As the seasonal monsoon rains descend over the kingdom, it marks the beginning of the Buddhist "rain retreat" and the Buddhist Lent, or "Phansa", during which all Buddhist monks retreat to the temples. This is also an auspicious time for Buddhist ordinations as it marks a period of spiritual renewal. Known as "Khao Phansa", the Buddhist Lent is a time devoted to study and meditation. Buddhist monks remain within the temple grounds and do not venture out for a period of three months starting from the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month (in July) to the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month (in October).
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
July 1 - 15, 2008
- The 3rd International Wax Sculpture Exhibition 2008
- The Ubon Ratchathani Arts Exhibition Presentations of I-San folk art and culture with a variety of art and craft items created by the local artisans of Ubon Ratchathani being displayed in front of the Ubon Ratchathani National Museum.
July 5, 2008
The Official Opening Ceremony of the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival and the 3rd International Wax Sculpture Exhibition 2008 in front of Wat Sri Ubonrat A mini-light-and-sound parade will relate the story of the ancient tradition of candle-crafting in Ubon Ratchathani province.
July 1 - 17, 2008
Visits to nine selected candle-crafting communities of Ubon Ratchathani
July 17, 2008
Lenten Candle Exhibition around Thung Sri Muang Park
July 18, 2008
The Candle Festival and Candle Parade 2008 Opening Ceremony
Making Merit
Thai Buddhists engage in merit-making as an expression of respect and gratitude by making offerings to Lord Buddha, venerable monks, past and present kings, and to parents, grandparents and their ancestors.
Making merit relates strongly to the concept of rebirth. The accumulation of merit, or bun, is believed to exert a powerful influence on one's future life and, indeed, rebirths.
According to Buddhist teachings, all actions performed in our daily lives affect our field of merit, but none more so than the support of Buddhism itself. When one offers material support to a Buddhist monk ? be it alms in the form of food or donations, or voluntary work ? one is helping to assure that Buddhist teachings live on. This accumulates merit not only for the giver by helping sustain Buddhism. It also provides the opportunity for future generations to make and accumulate merit. In addition to the monk's morning alms round, the presentation of the Lenten candles is also a merit-making act.
Visits to Nine Candle-Crafting Communities of Ubon Ratchathani
July 1 - 17, 2008
Nine of Ubon Ratchathani's candle-crafting communities are noted for their hand-crafted traditional beeswax candles. Gain insight into this ancient artistic tradition and the local culture by visiting the communities and watch artisans at work making ornately sculpted Lenten candles.
Wat Thung Sri Muang community
Wat Phra That Nong Bua community
Wat Manee Wanaram communityb(Wat Pa Noi)
Wat Nong Pla Paak community
Wat Maha Wanaram community (Wat Pa Yai)
Warinchamrab School
Wat Burapha community
Baan Kham Phun Weaving Village
Wat Sri Pra Du community
Lenten Candle Exhibition
17 July, 2008
An exhibition of Lenten Candles at Thung Sri Muang Park featuring crafted candles, moulded candles and ancient candles on the evening of Asalaha Bucha Day. Over 30 lenten candles from various temples will be moved to Thung Sri Muang Park in preparation for the candle procession the next morning. The exhibition of ornately decorated candles which will be illuminated presents a breathtaking spectacle.
The Candle Festival and Candle Parade 2008 Opening Ceremony
July 18, 2008/from 08.00 a.m. onwards
In front of Wat Sri Ubonrat temple
The magnificent Candle Procession will comprise over 30 candle processions, led by the Procession of the Royal Candle. In addition to the crafted or moulded candles and ancient candles crafted by the various communities of Ubon Ratchathani province, nine will be masterpieces created by candle artisans for the 2008 International Wax Sculpture Exhibition. Each procession will be accompanied by local folk performances, dance and music, adding a colourful aspect to the festival. |
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival (known in Thai as Haetian) is held in Ubon Ratchathani, Isan, Thailand, around the days of Asanha Puja (which commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon) and Wan Kao Pansa (which marks the beginning of vassa). At the start of the Lenten period, it is traditional for the devout to donate to monks items of personal use, such as candles. This part of the festival became the core of the Ubon Ratchathani version of the event. It is now a major event both for residents and for tourists: giant candles are paraded through the town, each representing a local temple, district or other institution. The more elaborate versions are accompanied by scenes of Hindu and Buddhist mythology sculpted in wood or plaster and coated with wax.  A girl dancing in the parade  A figure on one of the floats The candles are carved a couple of days before the procession. On Asanha Bucha day, the candles are taken to Tung Sri Muang, a park in the middle of the city, where they are decorated and then exhibited in the evening. On the same evening, there are small processions with lighted candles at several temples. The procession takes place on the morning of Wan Kao Pansa. The candles are paraded through the city centre on floats, accompanied by representatives of the respective institutions. These are normally dancers or musicians in traditional dress. In addition to the above, the festival is accompanied by the usual paraphernalia of feasting and games which attend any Thai festival. |
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