Traditional Candle Festival - Nakhon Ratchasima Thailand 2023

The traditional Candle Festival takes place during Asahna Bucha and Khao Phansa days, two important Buddhist events that celebrate respectively Buddha’s first sermon and the beginning of Khao Pansa or Buddhist Lent which lasts for three months. The events are marked by ceremonies and processions in the form of large-scale, colourful parades of magnificent floats with huge, extravagant candlewax sculptures, Thai traditional dance and music.

For monks in Thailand this also means the start of a period of retreat and reflection during which they largely confine themselves to their temples to study and meditate. Many Thai young men are ordained as monks during this time.

The Korat Candle Festival usually takes place at the Tao Suranaree Monument in Nakhon Ratchasima – more commonly known as Korat – a major city in the Isaan region of Thailand. Magnificently-carved candle sculptures depict scenes from the life of Buddha, Thai royal projects, and historical landmarks in Korat.

Long before the arrival of electricity, Thai Buddhists donated candles to their local temples to ensure the monks had light to study during the three-month long period of Buddhist Lent. Originally a merit-making tradition, the donation of candles became more symbolic after the arrival of electricity, and the candles themselves more decorative and elaborate. At some point local communities began outdoing each other in friendly contests for crafting the largest and most intricate candle wax statues.

The dates of the two Buddhist holidays – Asahna Bucha and Khao Pansa are set by the Thai lunar calendar and vary each year. In 2023, the Festival is August 1-2.

The festival is a great part of Thai culture. It’s a family friendly event and well worth taking part in.

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