Apr 16, 2009

Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival (งานประเพณีแห่เทียนพรรษาอุบลราชธานี)














Time
Candle Festival held annually on Asanlaha Bucha Day and Khao Phansa (Buddhist Lent) Day in July
Venue
Main activities will be at Thung Si Muang. Other activities will be at various place in Ubon Ratchthani Municipality.
Advice on Visiting the Festival and Joining Activities
Apart from showing the devout belief in Buddhism of the people of Ubon Ratchathani, the province’ S Candle Festival also displays the evolution of art by its top artisans. Ubon ratchathani nas a great number of craftsmen inmany fields. Thay have continued to produce hight- quality work, whether it is contemporary art, local handicrafts or architecture of temples. The Candle Festival is like a proving ground for them to show their prowess in each area throuth the magnificent wax candles. Visitors to the festival will have the opportunity to appreciate these works and learn about local culture and production of candles. Major activities of the festival are as follows
Visit communities and see candle making Visits of community and temples can be made to see the making of festival candles about 2-3 days prior to the procession. Visitors can learn about the techniques and methods used, as well as the designs applied to the candles. Moreover, they can be up close to see communities partake in Buddhism ceremonies, an important part of life of the people here. The most interesting temples are Wat Burapha, Wat Nong Bua, Wat Sawangarom, Wat Si Pradu Song Tham, Wat Suthat Wanaram, Wat Thung Si Muang, Wat Prasukaram.
Candle procession on asanlaha Bucha Day at Ubon Ratchathani temples A candle procession circling the convocation hall on Asanlaha Bucha Day will be held in the evening at various temples. Not only will visitors have the chance to see this important Buddhism ceremony, but they can also delight in exquisite local architecture of the temples.
Display of candles around Thung Si Muang and the grandest candle exhibition in Thailand The evening of Asanlaha Bucha Day will be when over 30 candles from temples are moved to Thung Si Muang in preparation for the procession the next morning . The candles will be fully decorated and the site where the candles are placed will be illuminated with highpowered lighting and cleaned up. Thus, an ideal setting for the candles is created, making the display the most beautiful and most complete candle exhibition in Thailand.

The candle parade It is on the Buddhist Lent Day from 08.00 hrs.onwards. The parade will pass the provincial hall along Upparat Road and Chayangkun Road for a distance of 2-3 kilometers before disbanding. It will consist of a royal candle parade and candle parades from temples, each with accompanying local performances, dances and music. For visitors wishing to see the parade, the organizing committee will arrange a stand in fount of the provincial hall for a small fee of about 200 baht. Viewing the parade from elsewhere is free. The parade usually ends in the afternoon.
Merit-making to donate candles This is considered the heart of the Buddhist Lent. Buddhists will take candles and items for the personal use of monks to donate to monks at nearby temples. Visitors can participate in this beautiful ritual at all temples.

Other activities In addition to the above activities, the organizing committee has prepared special events, such as local performances, a native feast, and Miss Candle beauty contest.

Kaeng Saphue Songkran Festival (งานประเพณีมหาสงกรานต์แก่งสะพือ)







Held every April in Amphoe Phibun Mangsahan, the festival comprises a beauty contest, fair, local sports, and local music contest.








Illuminated Boat Procession (งานประเพณีไหลเรือไฟ)







Held every October to mark the end of the Buddhist Lent, boats from different temples will illuminate the river near the Rattanakosin Bicentennial Bridge.



Traditional Boat Races (งานแข่งขันเรือยาวประเพณี)







Several boat racing tournaments are held annually in October after the end of the Buddhist Lent. The Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Municipality’s tournament is held near the Rattanakosin Bicentennial Bridge. Tambon Phibun Mangsahan Municipality’s tournament is held near the Mun River Bridge, and Wat Pho Tak’s tournament is held in front of the temple



Hat Khu Duea (หาดคูเดื่อ)


The beach by the Mun River is 12 km from downtown Ubon Ratchathani via Highway 24. Lots of restaurants on the raft are available

Sao Chaliang (เสาเฉลียง)




Carved by wind and water for millions of years, the mushroom-like stone towers are scattered around the area containing shell fossils, sand and gravels in their texture. Geologists assumed that over million years ago this area was once a sea.


City Pillar Shrine (ศาลหลักเมือง)







Located at the southern corner of the field, the sacred pillar was built in 1972.



Wat Nong Pa Phong (วัดหนองป่าพง)




The temple is situated in a lush forest of Tambon Non Phueng. The tranquility allows monks to study and practice Vipassana meditation. Attractions in the temple include the Phra Phothiyan Thera Museum that displays the eight requisites and wax model of Luangpu Cha


Wat Pa Nana Chat (วัดป่านานาชาติ)


Numerous foreign monks study and practice Vipassana meditation here; most of them can speak Thai fluently and pray in Pali. Strict practices of the monks here make the temple quite honourable among Buddhists

Wat Pa Nana Chat (วัดป่านานาชาติ)







Wat Tham Kuha Sawan (วัดถ้ำคูหาสวรรค์)

The temple was built by Luangpu Khamkhaning Chulamani to be a place for meditation practice where he also resided. Today, Luangpu has died but his body, which is not rotten, is well kept in a glass coffin and considered a sacred item.

Wat Tham Kuha Sawan (วัดถ้ำคูหาสวรรค์)




Maenam Song Si (แม่น้ำสองสี)


At the mouth of the Mun River, Ban Woen Buek. The Mun River runs into the Mekong, so we can see two rivers, in two different colours – ‘Song Si’ means two colours - blending together. The Mekong River will be reddish brown while the Mun River is rather blue.

Maenam Song Si (แม่น้ำสองสี)







Phu Lon (ภูหล่น)

The mountain is in Tambon Song Yang, 20 km north of Amphoe Si Mueang Mai. It has a cave where the late famous monk Phra Achan Man Phurithatto practiced his Vipassana.

Phu Lon (ภูหล่น)




Pha Taem (ผาแต้ม)

located on the bank of the Mekong Rive, the cliffs are adorned with 4,000-year-old paintings. Paintings some 200 meters long, depict giant catfish, elephants, turtles, dogs, cows, handpalms, and fishing scenes. The scenery is splendid with beautiful multicolored flowers, especially during the late rainy season. Pha Taem and Pha Mon are on Highway 2112 about 98 kilometers from Ubon Ratchathani, about 3 kilometers further from Sao Chaliang in Tambon Nong Phua Noi. The Two-colored River: located in Khongchiem district, the muddy Mekong River and the indigo-blue Moon River meet in the area of Ban Woen Buk. Here can be appreciated the beautiful scenery of both the Thai and Lao banks.