July 8-12, 2014 ---- Wan Khao Phansa or the Beginning of the Rains Retreat Day is one of the famous Buddhist holidays in Thailand. It is when monks are supposed to stay at the temples to study the Buddhist doctrine and avoid traveling that might cause damage to the crop the farmers grow during the rainy season (3 months). Therefore, it has become a tradition for lay people to offer candles to the monks in order to use them in studying the Buddhist doctrine at night. Later this tradition has become a big festival in Ubon Ratchathani province of Thailand where there is a competition in candle-carving and -decorating. Nathan and I had the opportunity to observe each temple's preparations and were impressed by the effort everybody has put into the work. This carving can take more than two months to finish, and most works depend on volunteers. This festival is definitely worth a visit!
The Process of Sculpting Lenten Candles
The sculpture of candles uses a lot of funding and labor. The Buddhist temples that participate the event and the competition would receive donations from the villagers to buy wax and materials needed for sculpting the candles. Lay people also volunteer in their local temples in carving candles or organizing an exhibit and a donation box for tourists. This process can take a few months before the parade, and tourists are also welcome to participate. Nathan and I went around to almost every Buddhist temple that participated the festival, and we learned a lot about the unity of the locals, the tradition and the sculpting methods. A great experience, indeed!
Candle Parade and Showcase (Night)
On the night before Wan Khao Phansa is Asanha Bucha Day, the day when the Buddha gave his first sermon, every temple that participates in the festival must finish sculpturing and present their candles at Thung Si Muang Park. The parade is held at night, which make the candles look even more elaborate and great for photography. The candle competition features many categories based on the method of decoration.
Candle Parade on Wan Khao Phansa
In the morning of Wan Khao Phansa (the Beginning of the Rains Retreat), the candles are paraded through the city center. It can last a few hours, and there are MCs explaining about the sculptured candles of each temple in both Thai and English to the audience. The festival also include music and cultural shows, and seats can be fill up fast, so make sure to go there early. It's completely free to join this event. It's normally very hot, so make sure to bring a hat or something to fan yourself. Many street vendors selling food and drinks are located all over the city, but some companies might give you free drinking water or hats.
