The Thai word phansa refers to a period of three months in the rainy season during which time Buddhist monks are obliged to stay at one particular temple. They are not allowed to stay overnight at other temples during this time. The reason that monks have to stay at one temple is because this period of time is the rice-planting season and the farmers’ crops are a verdant green. If monks are out travelling during this period, they may inadvertently step on the rice sprouts that have been planted, resulting in the loss of crops. The Lord Buddha therefore ordained that monks should stop their pilgrimages for a period of three months during the rainy season and that they must not stay overnight in a place other than their chosen temple. (Khao phansa means ‘rain retreat’ or ‘Buddhist Lent’.) Khao phansa has taken place since the time of the Lord Buddha.
Khao Phansa Day is the first day of the waning moon of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, or during the month of July and extends for a period of three months until Ork Phansa Day which is the end of the period of time. Ork Phansa Day falls on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eleventh month of the lunar calendar, or during the month of October. (Note: The Thai calendar originally began in our month of December. Therefore, the eighth month is July and the eleventh month is October.) When monks stop their travels during the Buddhist Lent period, they have time to study, and they especially like to read. The best time for reading and memorising is during the night, which is a peaceful, quiet time during which it is easy to concentrate. In the past, when there was no electricity, monks used to light candles during the time that they were reading. When villagers knew this, they made candles to present to the monks, especially for presentation on Khao Phansa Day, a day on which they would receive even more merit than usual. Merit in this case means that the lives of those who present candles will be happy, healthy, enlightened and not gloomy. In other words, they will be people with wisdom, knowledge and perception, which is equivalent to the English word ‘bright’. The presentation of candles to monks on Khao Phansa Day is a Buddhist tradition which began in ancient times and still continues at present. However, present-day villagers tend to present electric light bulbs or fluorescent tubes as they are brighter than candles, are easier to use, and more convenient, and they still receive the same amount of merit!
The people of Ubon Ratchathani are the same as other Buddhists – when Khao Phansa Day arrives, they take candles and present them to monks. In the past, when it was impossible to buy ready-made candles, villagers would use beeswax taken from bees’ nests. They would melt the beeswax and then immerse a length of cotton to be used as a wick into the molten beeswax. Next, the wax would be left until it was cool enough to be rolled by hand, surrounding the wick completely.
Following that, the candles were cut to the required length and they were then ready for presentation to monks.
Presenting candles to monks in the past did not include a parade and candle contest like we have at present. It was just a presentation of candles along with other offerings to monks and receiving blessings from the monks, followed by the journey home. The reason that there must be a parade and a contest like we have today came about during the reign of Rama V, when the King’s grandson, Prince Sappasittiprasong, was made governor and came to rule over the Lao Kao circle, which was established in the town of Ubon Ratchathani. He saw the injuries and deaths that the villagers suffered during the traditional rocket festival. The injuries and deaths were due to rockets that exploded and fell onto houses; other injuries and deaths were due to arguments and fights due to drinking excessive alcohol; sometimes it was due to playing with excessive energy in the mud; or, amusement with wooden dolls produced to look like they were making love. The Prince decided that these stories were bad, inappropriate, and ordered the rocket festival to stop, and for a candle festival with candles being presented to monks to take its place.
The candle festival in the time of the King’s grandson, Prince Sappasittiprasong, involved the cooperative production of candles by villagers in each community (community, in this instance, means a small community group that is a member of a larger community. In each village, there were many small communities). Beeswax was collected, melted and then poured into a mould. After that, it was beautifully decorated and placed on a sedan chair or transported by cart. The candles entered the parade and then gathered together at the front of the town hall. When each community had gathered and was ready, the Prince would give prizes to the communities that had produced the most beautiful candles. After that, lots were drawn to see which