Bundled candles were invented during the early period of Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani. A bundled candle is made from a number of small candles covering a wooden axis or a banana trunk and tied together, forming what is called a ‘candle tree’. The candle tree will then be decorated with colored paper tied around the trunk at various levels.
The tying is usually designed to be exotic and attractive. Later, there has been a competition challenging people from various neighborhoods to make the most creative and exotic bundled candle one can think of. The parading of bundled candles is usually accompanied by Isan folk-song singers, khene (North-easterners’ panpipe) players as well as players of any other locally available musical instruments.