2025年7月28日星期一
2025年7月22日星期二
2025年4月18日星期五
2023年6月29日星期四
2016年7月5日星期二
Wonders in wax
Wonders in wax
Thailand marks the beginning of the Buddhist Lent with candle carving, merit-making and folk dancing
With the monsoon season now in full swing and the rains nourishing the delicate rice seeds sowed not so long ago, it's time for Thailand to mark the Khao Phansa Festival. Held across the country in the middle of July, this spiritual event sees devotees of the Buddhist faith offering beautifully carved candles to the temples in a gesture reminiscent of the days when the monks would use the candles to provide light as they chanted Buddhist texts throughout the night.
From Ubon Ratchathani to Nan provinces, from boats on the canals to rides on elephant-back, the festival is celebrated in many different ways with floats, cultural shows, folk music, traditional dance and parades forming the main theme.
We take a look at some of the most delightful candle festivals.
UBON RATCHATHANI
When: July 18-20
Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand's lower Northeast is the champion when it comes to candle carving and spectacular floats and parades. Tourists and devotees are lured to the provincial capital to admire the amazing wax and candle carvings, many of them shaped into Buddha images and angels. In more recent years, the festival has incorporated a candle contest, with international artists and college students competing to show off their artistic creations. This year's event kicked off at the beginning of this week and runs through July 20 with artists from Russia, the US, Taiwan and Spain exhibiting their works in Thungsrimuang square. A sightseeing tour of the candle-making communities of Wat Sripradoo, Wat Thungsrimuang and Wat Pholphaen allows visitors to watch as residents cut up and melt the beeswax then pour it into moulds to form components of the huge, elaborate candles. The event culminates on July 20 when thousands of spectators line the streets to witness the colourful candle float parade.
NAN
When: July 20
If extravagant candle floats are not your cup of tea, then check out the humble wax-offering rite in Wiang Sa, Nan Province. On July 20, two days after the full moon, residents of Wiang Sa district will offer small dice and sticks of candle and wax to the Buddhist monks at Wat Buen Yeun. Like almsgiving, this unique yet original candle offering has been an act of virtue since the early 1800s. With the monks staying in their temples for three months during the Buddhist Lent, the candles will be used for learning and practising Buddhism by night.
NAKHON PHANOM
When: July 20
Nakhon Phanom Candle Festival takes place at Phra That Phanom, one of the most revered pagodas along the Mekong River. As elsewhere in the country, the ceremony will be celebrated in a devout yet festive fashion. The colourful procession of exquisitely carved candles, Miss Candle Beauty Contest, classical dancing, a mass merit-making ceremony will take turns to brighten up the spirit of Khao Phansa on the river bank.
SURIN
When: July 18-19
Temple murals reveal a lot about the elephant's great contribution to Buddhism, and the pachyderms of Surin once again underline their important role in religion at the beginning of Vassa. Surin pays homage to its traditional beasts of burden with 100 elaborately decorated elephants carrying some of the city's most revered monks around the town in a unique and memorable ceremony. There's also a candle procession and an elephant-back merit-making rite at the Monument of Phaya Surin Phakdi Sri Narong Changwang.
SUPHAN BURI
July: 19-20
Suphan Buri Province holds its candle festival at Wat Pa Lelai Woravihara with a showcase of beautifully carved candles. The colourful procession along with performances of folk and traditional dance by local art students takes place on July 20 starting from the Clock Tower in Muang Suphan Buri District and continuing through the downtown area. The candle showcase and dance is staged at Wat Pa Lelai. Suphan Buri natives are famous for laying on good entertainment, so visitors to the festival won't be disappointed as folk dances add fun to the festival.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA
When: July 19-20
Nakhon Ratchasima Candle Procession Festival takes place at the Tao Suranaree Monument and promises a procession of floats bearing carved candles as well as a range of other merit-making activities. Ahead of the province's grand celebration, Phimai and Chokchai districts will hold the candle festivals to mark the start of the Buddhist Lent.
SARABURI
When: July 19-20
The annual Tak Bat Dok Mai, or Flower Offering festival, returns to Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi to mark the beginning of the three-month-long rains retreat. Thousands of Buddhist monks, mostly from Phra Dhammakaya temple, are expected to attend this year’s event. The festival celebrates the bloom of the local flower known as Dok Khao Phansa at the beginning of Vassa. The flower offering takes place twice daily at 9am and 3pm on both July 19 and 20.
AYUTTHAYA
When: July 19
The riverside community of Ladchado, Ayutthaya Province, will be celebrating the annual Candle Festival along the river on July 19 and thanking the rain for replenishing its canal. Like many things in Ladchado, the candle festival is celebrated on the water with hundreds of small sampans decorated with flowers and colourful parasols making their way downstream from the far side of canal. Tucked away in Phak Hai district, Ladchado is about 40 kilometres west of downtown Ayutthaya.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
Thailand marks the beginning of the Buddhist Lent with candle carving, merit-making and folk dancing
With the monsoon season now in full swing and the rains nourishing the delicate rice seeds sowed not so long ago, it's time for Thailand to mark the Khao Phansa Festival. Held across the country in the middle of July, this spiritual event sees devotees of the Buddhist faith offering beautifully carved candles to the temples in a gesture reminiscent of the days when the monks would use the candles to provide light as they chanted Buddhist texts throughout the night.
From Ubon Ratchathani to Nan provinces, from boats on the canals to rides on elephant-back, the festival is celebrated in many different ways with floats, cultural shows, folk music, traditional dance and parades forming the main theme.
We take a look at some of the most delightful candle festivals.
UBON RATCHATHANI
When: July 18-20
Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand's lower Northeast is the champion when it comes to candle carving and spectacular floats and parades. Tourists and devotees are lured to the provincial capital to admire the amazing wax and candle carvings, many of them shaped into Buddha images and angels. In more recent years, the festival has incorporated a candle contest, with international artists and college students competing to show off their artistic creations. This year's event kicked off at the beginning of this week and runs through July 20 with artists from Russia, the US, Taiwan and Spain exhibiting their works in Thungsrimuang square. A sightseeing tour of the candle-making communities of Wat Sripradoo, Wat Thungsrimuang and Wat Pholphaen allows visitors to watch as residents cut up and melt the beeswax then pour it into moulds to form components of the huge, elaborate candles. The event culminates on July 20 when thousands of spectators line the streets to witness the colourful candle float parade.
NAN
When: July 20
If extravagant candle floats are not your cup of tea, then check out the humble wax-offering rite in Wiang Sa, Nan Province. On July 20, two days after the full moon, residents of Wiang Sa district will offer small dice and sticks of candle and wax to the Buddhist monks at Wat Buen Yeun. Like almsgiving, this unique yet original candle offering has been an act of virtue since the early 1800s. With the monks staying in their temples for three months during the Buddhist Lent, the candles will be used for learning and practising Buddhism by night.
NAKHON PHANOM
When: July 20
Nakhon Phanom Candle Festival takes place at Phra That Phanom, one of the most revered pagodas along the Mekong River. As elsewhere in the country, the ceremony will be celebrated in a devout yet festive fashion. The colourful procession of exquisitely carved candles, Miss Candle Beauty Contest, classical dancing, a mass merit-making ceremony will take turns to brighten up the spirit of Khao Phansa on the river bank.
SURIN
When: July 18-19
Temple murals reveal a lot about the elephant's great contribution to Buddhism, and the pachyderms of Surin once again underline their important role in religion at the beginning of Vassa. Surin pays homage to its traditional beasts of burden with 100 elaborately decorated elephants carrying some of the city's most revered monks around the town in a unique and memorable ceremony. There's also a candle procession and an elephant-back merit-making rite at the Monument of Phaya Surin Phakdi Sri Narong Changwang.
SUPHAN BURI
July: 19-20
Suphan Buri Province holds its candle festival at Wat Pa Lelai Woravihara with a showcase of beautifully carved candles. The colourful procession along with performances of folk and traditional dance by local art students takes place on July 20 starting from the Clock Tower in Muang Suphan Buri District and continuing through the downtown area. The candle showcase and dance is staged at Wat Pa Lelai. Suphan Buri natives are famous for laying on good entertainment, so visitors to the festival won't be disappointed as folk dances add fun to the festival.
NAKHON RATCHASIMA
When: July 19-20
Nakhon Ratchasima Candle Procession Festival takes place at the Tao Suranaree Monument and promises a procession of floats bearing carved candles as well as a range of other merit-making activities. Ahead of the province's grand celebration, Phimai and Chokchai districts will hold the candle festivals to mark the start of the Buddhist Lent.
SARABURI
When: July 19-20
The annual Tak Bat Dok Mai, or Flower Offering festival, returns to Wat Phra Phutthabat in Saraburi to mark the beginning of the three-month-long rains retreat. Thousands of Buddhist monks, mostly from Phra Dhammakaya temple, are expected to attend this year’s event. The festival celebrates the bloom of the local flower known as Dok Khao Phansa at the beginning of Vassa. The flower offering takes place twice daily at 9am and 3pm on both July 19 and 20.
AYUTTHAYA
When: July 19
The riverside community of Ladchado, Ayutthaya Province, will be celebrating the annual Candle Festival along the river on July 19 and thanking the rain for replenishing its canal. Like many things in Ladchado, the candle festival is celebrated on the water with hundreds of small sampans decorated with flowers and colourful parasols making their way downstream from the far side of canal. Tucked away in Phak Hai district, Ladchado is about 40 kilometres west of downtown Ayutthaya.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
2015年7月14日星期二
蜡烛上的艺术节 邬汶将迎守夏盛会
蜡烛上的艺术节 邬汶将迎守夏盛会
泰国与寮国交界的邬汶叻他尼府(Ubon Ratchathani)，也是泰国俗称伊善的东北部，每年7月的蜡烛节是当地最大庆典活动，园区内壁画国家公园是必游风景区。
泰国的邬汶叻他他尼府，距离曼谷约600公里，是泰国最东的一个府治，与寮国交界，18世纪时仍属于寮国，后来被泰国占有成为泰国76府之一，由于有湄公河流经区内，是个鱼米之乡。
要到邬汶府旅游最便捷的方式是自曼谷搭机，航程约1小时，除传统的泰国节日外，当地最著名的就是蜡烛节，每年7月下旬举行，在邬汶市中心封街大游行，除了传统泰式舞蹈外，最特别的是将巨型的蜡烛雕刻成传统神话故事主角和佛像，每座都超过数公吨的蜡烛所雕刻而成，栩栩如生的神佛身形和脸孔，是游人相机标的。
若错过蜡烛嘉年华盛会，其实邬汶省也珍贵的国家公园资源供你享用，与寮国隔着湄公河的壁画国家公园（Pha Taem National Park），在泰语中Pha是指着悬崖的意思，Taem则是指的绘画，这是在湄公河畔的一处超过1公里长，高约150公尺的大岩壁，上头有史前时代人类所留下的红色壁画，有湄公河的鲶鱼，大象野猪等和人类活动的壁画。
这里也是泰国最早见到日出的地区，泰国民众在新年假期会选择到此隔着湄公河观看从寮国境内山头升起新年的第一曙光，当地也有类似台湾野柳的蕈状岩地形。整个国家公园有分6个区域，大约有140平方公里，包括有森林、瀑布和野生动物，全区完整游览大约需要一天的时间。
~以上新闻转载自世界日报~
泰国与寮国交界的邬汶叻他尼府(Ubon Ratchathani)，也是泰国俗称伊善的东北部，每年7月的蜡烛节是当地最大庆典活动，园区内壁画国家公园是必游风景区。
泰国的邬汶叻他他尼府，距离曼谷约600公里，是泰国最东的一个府治，与寮国交界，18世纪时仍属于寮国，后来被泰国占有成为泰国76府之一，由于有湄公河流经区内，是个鱼米之乡。
要到邬汶府旅游最便捷的方式是自曼谷搭机，航程约1小时，除传统的泰国节日外，当地最著名的就是蜡烛节，每年7月下旬举行，在邬汶市中心封街大游行，除了传统泰式舞蹈外，最特别的是将巨型的蜡烛雕刻成传统神话故事主角和佛像，每座都超过数公吨的蜡烛所雕刻而成，栩栩如生的神佛身形和脸孔，是游人相机标的。
若错过蜡烛嘉年华盛会，其实邬汶省也珍贵的国家公园资源供你享用，与寮国隔着湄公河的壁画国家公园（Pha Taem National Park），在泰语中Pha是指着悬崖的意思，Taem则是指的绘画，这是在湄公河畔的一处超过1公里长，高约150公尺的大岩壁，上头有史前时代人类所留下的红色壁画，有湄公河的鲶鱼，大象野猪等和人类活动的壁画。
这里也是泰国最早见到日出的地区，泰国民众在新年假期会选择到此隔着湄公河观看从寮国境内山头升起新年的第一曙光，当地也有类似台湾野柳的蕈状岩地形。整个国家公园有分6个区域，大约有140平方公里，包括有森林、瀑布和野生动物，全区完整游览大约需要一天的时间。
~以上新闻转载自世界日报~
2015年7月1日星期三
Candles in the wind
Candles in the wind
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.
The retreat was the idea of the Lord Buddha, goes the history, 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 July 31, 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 18 to July 31, international artists will compete in a wax-carving competition. Some is avant-garde, while many are forward-looking pieces of candle. The artists will exhibit their pieces of art Thungsrimyang public square in Ubon Ratchathani.
A sightseeing tour of the candle-making communities is a must. Wat Sripradoo, Wat Thungsrimuang, Wat Pholphaen communities, for example, will show how the big floats of candle are taking shape. 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 July 31, 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.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
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.
The retreat was the idea of the Lord Buddha, goes the history, 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 July 31, 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 18 to July 31, international artists will compete in a wax-carving competition. Some is avant-garde, while many are forward-looking pieces of candle. The artists will exhibit their pieces of art Thungsrimyang public square in Ubon Ratchathani.
A sightseeing tour of the candle-making communities is a must. Wat Sripradoo, Wat Thungsrimuang, Wat Pholphaen communities, for example, will show how the big floats of candle are taking shape. 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 July 31, 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.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
2015年1月12日星期一
2013年9月7日星期六
2013年7月20日星期六
2013年7月14日星期日
Carved in wax
Carved in wax
Ubon Ratchathani marks the start of the Buddhist Lent retreat with its annual Candle Festival.
The month-long festive event, which this year is on the theme "Isaan Art and Culture", brings the finest arts of Isaan to Ubon Ratchathani's public park. The international wax carving competition also adds a foreign shade to the local colour palette, with many international artists showing off their artistic skills. The highlight is on July 22, when more than 100,000 devotees will join a procession of carved candles on floats. A sightseeing tour of the eight candle-making communities is a must.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
Ubon Ratchathani marks the start of the Buddhist Lent retreat with its annual Candle Festival.
The month-long festive event, which this year is on the theme "Isaan Art and Culture", brings the finest arts of Isaan to Ubon Ratchathani's public park. The international wax carving competition also adds a foreign shade to the local colour palette, with many international artists showing off their artistic skills. The highlight is on July 22, when more than 100,000 devotees will join a procession of carved candles on floats. A sightseeing tour of the eight candle-making communities is a must.
~News courtesy of The Nation~
2013年2月28日星期四
2013年2月19日星期二
2013年2月3日星期日
Ubon Candle Festival 乌汶蜡烛节
Ubon's biggest event is the Candle Festival, held in early July on Khao Phansa day, which marks the beginning of the rainy season retreat. During three months, monks do not leave their temple, unless for an emergency, and lay people vow to abstain from taking alcohol as well as to refrain from any negative action. Huge wax candles are displayed in Thung Si Muang park, which are carried around town in a procession the next morning.
Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani (อุบลราชธานี) is a city in Isaan, Thailand. Often referred to as simply Ubon (อุบล), it should not be confused with "Udon" to the north.
Ubon was founded on the northern bank of the Mun River by a group of Lao princes fleeing Vientiane in the late 1700s. They applied for King Taksin's protection, duly granted in 1779 along with the city's new name, meaning "Royal City of the Lotus". Modern-day Ubon was a U.S. air base during the Vietnam War and grew rapidly at the time, but little has happened since then. The town of Warin Chamrap, on the south bank of the river, is effectively a suburb of Ubon these days.
The sleepy Ubon office of the Tourist Authority of Thailand (264/1 Khuan Thani Road) is worth a visit to pick up useful English maps of the town and nearby provinces. Basic English spoken. Open daily 08:30-16:30.
Get in by plane
The grandly named Ubon Ratchathani International Airport (IATA: UBP), (ICAO: VTUU) in reality serves only flights to Bangkok most of the year. Thai Airways has two daily non-stop flights between Bangkok and Ubon and return. NokAir has three daily non-stop flights between Bangkok Don Muaeng Airport and Ubon and return. Air Asia has two daily non-stop flights between Bangkok and Ubon and return year-round. AirAsia operates 3 weekly flights between Phuket and Ubon from October to March and between Chiang Mai and Ubon from November to March. Flight time is 50 minutes in Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 aircraft.
The airport is at the northern edge of the city almost within walking distance, but accommodation is scattered around Ubon, so better not to consider walking. Much better to go to one of the two limousine (taxi) counters that are located in the airport arrivals hall and purchase for only 100 baht a taxi coupon that will take you to almost any point in the city. Limousine (taxi) rates in Ubon are extremely cheap by Western standards and lower than those in Bangkok. Set prices have been established to most destinations in and around Ubon.
A taxi from Ubon to Chong Mek costs only 1,000 baht for the 90 km one way trip and a taxi from Ubon to Mukdahan costs 2,000-2,500 baht (depending on the vehicle type) to travel a one way distance of 192 km. The driver does not charge for the return trip like some western countries. There are no taxi meters and the fare must normally be purchased from one of the two taxi counters at the airport arrivals desk.
If you prefer not to take a fixed price taxi, you can always walk the 200 m beyond the general airport parking area to haggle with the waiting tuk-tuk drivers, but chances are that your trip will end up costing you more.
~Info courtesy of Wikitravel~
Ubon was founded on the northern bank of the Mun River by a group of Lao princes fleeing Vientiane in the late 1700s. They applied for King Taksin's protection, duly granted in 1779 along with the city's new name, meaning "Royal City of the Lotus". Modern-day Ubon was a U.S. air base during the Vietnam War and grew rapidly at the time, but little has happened since then. The town of Warin Chamrap, on the south bank of the river, is effectively a suburb of Ubon these days.
The sleepy Ubon office of the Tourist Authority of Thailand (264/1 Khuan Thani Road) is worth a visit to pick up useful English maps of the town and nearby provinces. Basic English spoken. Open daily 08:30-16:30.
Get in by plane
The grandly named Ubon Ratchathani International Airport (IATA: UBP), (ICAO: VTUU) in reality serves only flights to Bangkok most of the year. Thai Airways has two daily non-stop flights between Bangkok and Ubon and return. NokAir has three daily non-stop flights between Bangkok Don Muaeng Airport and Ubon and return. Air Asia has two daily non-stop flights between Bangkok and Ubon and return year-round. AirAsia operates 3 weekly flights between Phuket and Ubon from October to March and between Chiang Mai and Ubon from November to March. Flight time is 50 minutes in Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 aircraft.
Ubon Ratchathani airport
The airport is at the northern edge of the city almost within walking distance, but accommodation is scattered around Ubon, so better not to consider walking. Much better to go to one of the two limousine (taxi) counters that are located in the airport arrivals hall and purchase for only 100 baht a taxi coupon that will take you to almost any point in the city. Limousine (taxi) rates in Ubon are extremely cheap by Western standards and lower than those in Bangkok. Set prices have been established to most destinations in and around Ubon.
A taxi from Ubon to Chong Mek costs only 1,000 baht for the 90 km one way trip and a taxi from Ubon to Mukdahan costs 2,000-2,500 baht (depending on the vehicle type) to travel a one way distance of 192 km. The driver does not charge for the return trip like some western countries. There are no taxi meters and the fare must normally be purchased from one of the two taxi counters at the airport arrivals desk.
If you prefer not to take a fixed price taxi, you can always walk the 200 m beyond the general airport parking area to haggle with the waiting tuk-tuk drivers, but chances are that your trip will end up costing you more.
~Info courtesy of Wikitravel~
2013年1月28日星期一
2012年10月12日星期五
2012年8月18日星期六
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