During the annual Buddhist Lent, or Rain Retreat, Buddhists usually undertake visits to temples to offer wax candles to monks. At the time, many make a personal wish to be blessed with intelligence and wisdom; like candlelight, a light from an aromatic substance that represents the light of Dhamma.
Known among Thais as Khao Phansa, the three-month Buddhist Lent starts on the first day of the waning moon of the eight lunar month (27th July 2010) and ends on the waxing-moon day of the eleventh month (in October).
During this rainy spell, Lord Buddha decreed that monks should remain overnight in their monasteries, a pronouncement intended to obviate unnecessary travel during a time when crops are in an early stage of growth for fer the monks might accidentally tread on the young plants. Buddhist monks and novices use this period to study within their monasteries. And since they must pray every morning and evening, they need candles to illuminate their religious studies.
Originally, Buddhist Thais collected a number of small candles and bundled them together to present to monks each year to mark Buddhist Lent. Later, they contrived to make large-sized wax candles for longer burning and better lighting for the monks. These candles are called Ton Thian Phansa (Buddhist Lenten Candles). They have steadily grown in size as villagers found that bamboo molds were suitable to make them from. As the candles are made, villagers stack them on a wooden board in layers.
The villagers came up with the idea of decorating Lenten candles in a number of ways. For example, they may leave them in the sun for the wax to soften and then mold them into shapes such as Dok Lamduan an native flower of Thailand. Some mold the wax into the shapes of carved fruits and vegetables to decorate Lenten candles.
Generally, there are two types of Lenten candles. The first typpe is rather complicated to make and requires the help of many workers. Work starts by selecting different colored candles to be kneaded and dried in the sun to soften the wax so it can be molded into the desired size and shape. Housewives, students and other local folk can join in at this stage. The next step requires craftsmen to help carve the candle.
The second type is not as complicated as the first one, and starts by molding candles into the desired size and shape and then carving the wax until it appears to be three-dimensional.
Although candle procession festivals are held in many provinces in Thailand, the province of Ubon Ratchathani stages this event on a grand scale. Residents of Ubon Ratchathani seriously began to make Lenten candles and arrange a procession to mark the occasion as far back as 1927. It has grown into the major cultural event we can see now-a-day. If you have the time you seriously need to see it...