July

Festival of Floral Offerings & Candle Festival

During the three months of Buddhist Lent, there are some regional festivals such as the festival of floral Offerings in Saraburi and the Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani.

The Festival of Floral Offerings takes place on the first day of the eighth lunar month. The Offering of Flowers is a traditional religious practice of Buddhists in Phra Phuttabat District, Saraburi Province, which has now been performed for many generations. The people believe that the offering of fresh flowers to Buddhist monks is a symbol of their devotion to Lord Buddha.

In the early morning of the first day of the Buddhist Lent, people gather in the sermon hall of Wat Pha Phutthabat Vora Maha Viharn where the Shrine of the Holy Footprint is located and offer food to the monks. Then, the worshippers go to collect flowers called “ The Flower of Buddhist Lent “ to offer to the monks for merit .

The ceremony of the Offering of the Flowers is traditionally performed in the afternoon of Buddhist Lent Day in the courtyard of the temple where the people stand in two rows with a two-meter space between them forming a passage. Then the monks come along the passage to receive the flowers. On this occasion, the villagers organize folk dances, folk music and exhibitions of the art of self-defense using swords and clubs etc .There is a parade of the Lent Candle and a contest procession of long-drum folk dances and a parade of the Flower Offering moving along the streets of the district to the temple. People, led by these joyful parades, proceed to the temple to offer their flowers to the monks.

This celebration of Buddhist Lent is observed in the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani. In fact, the Buddhist Lent Candle Procession might have been introduced in Thailand as recently as the time of the establishment of Bangkok by King Rama l, the founder of the Chakri Dynasty. To Buddhists, those that emit light become associated with learning and enlightenment. The idea behind the candle offerings is to provide Buddhist monks with a means of light in order to read the sacred Buddhist texts during Lent.

The people of Ubon Ratchathani make candle trees, some of which are several meters tall. The top of a candle may be fashioned in the shape of a lotus flower or the blossom of some other kinds of flowers. Different colored papers are put on the candles to add to their beauty. Then the Buddhist lent Candle Procession is organized and brought to the Thung Si Muang area for a contest on Asanhapuja Day. The Phalaeng, a northeastern-style dinner, is organized for visitors who join the Candle Festival.

The next morning, marking Buddhist Lent Day, beautifully carved beewax candles are paraded around the city before being presented to local temples. There is also singing, especially traditional northeastern songs, and long-drum dancing groups.

This festival is celebrated not only for religious purposes, but also for entertainment.

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