The UbonRatchathani Candle festival shows the craftsmanship and Thai tradition in an enchanting way.
One of our favourite holiday destinations Thailand has much to offer. Apart from the sublime beaches and bustling, lively cities, Thailand is known for its rich tradition and culture. So, if you are one of those who want to go beyond the tourist hotspot and discover the true essence of Thailand, then we recommend you to visit the illuminating Candle festival of UbonRatchathani. Ubon is in the northeastern part of Thailand named Isan. It is situated on the banks of river Mun.
The UbonRatchathani festival
Every year the town hosts a candle festival. It is the city largest event and is celebrated with great pomp and show. The festival is held for two days in which people enjoy many cultural events, music and dance. The streets are filled with the tantalizing smell of delicious food, and you can enjoy tones of street food made, especially during the festival. It mostly falls in the month of July, but its date varies as it is set according to the lunar calendar.
The history behind the candle festival
The festival is celebrated to commemorate two important days in Theravada Buddhism, which is the main religion of the Thais. The Asalha Puja day and KhaoPhansa day revolves around the local Buddhist temple, also known as Wat. The first day Asalha Puja day is celebrated to commemorate the first sermon of Buddha to his disciples, where he explained for the first time the four noble truths of Buddhism. The second day is the beginning of the Buddhist Lent, where the monks retreat in the temple for the next three months without any contact with the outside world, fasting, studying, praying and reflecting. The monk’s quarter is humble and simple without any electricity, so the offering made at Kho Phansa day is what makes them survive in the temple without any contact with the outside world. These offering also includes candle which helps illuminate temple in the night time and help monks. That is how candles became an important part of this festival.
Highlights of the festival
It is a great time to experience the myriad of different colours and burst of the sound of Thai people. Temples are opened for the locals, and you can observe the ceremonies of the temple. The colourful processions are all across the towns, and you witness huge figurine made out of wax.
So, come visit Thailand during this time and witness the grandeur of Thai heritage and culture.
