English
French
Spanish
Italian
If what you are searching for is a unique and aesthetically pleasing Thai experience, the Thailand’s Candle Festival is not to be missed. Follow this guide to learn all you need to know about the Candle Festival and how to make it a reality with Asia King Travel.
Thailand's Candle Festival in Thailand
Thailand’s Candle Festival, or "Khao Phansa," marks the beginning of the Buddhist Lent, a three-month interval when monks retreat to the temples to reflect and read. Candles had been traditionally presented to the temples to illuminate monks' paths throughout the duration. This simple gesture was amplified over the centuries into a full-fledged festival that integrates spirituality with stunning artistry.
Observed in July, Thailand’s Candle Festival is one of the largest and most sophisticated festivals in Thailand. The festival features huge candle floats which are intricately designed by artisans, villagers, and other community members. Each float carries a story from Buddhist or Hindu mythology, and it not only depicts spiritual devotion but also regional pride and imagination.
Each float carry a story from Buddish or Hindu mythology
Ubon Ratchathani is the heart of Thailand's Candle Festival. For centuries, the province has nurtured the tradition and is renowned for having skilled wax artists. Unlike smaller-scale versions of the festival in other places, Ubon's is a spectacular affair that hosts thousands of domestic and international tourists every year.
The city hosts a grand procession where candle floats are paraded up and down the streets, along with traditional music recitals, dance performances, and devotees dressed in costumes. The route is converted into a living art gallery, and the atmosphere is filled with euphoria and reverence.
Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand
Read more: Thailand's Colorful Culture Through 6 Spring Festivals
One of the interesting aspects of Thailand's Candle Festival is the craftsmanship that goes into constructing the candle floats. A float can take weeks, or even months, to produce. Artisans pour beeswax into implements in order to sculpt three dimensional images and scenery, often building up wax layers upon wooden or metal armature.
The artwork is normally standing upright for over several meters and reaching upwards for many meters. The themes are often based on Buddhist Jataka tales, retellings of the Ramayana, or depictions of mythic animals like Naga snakes and dancing stars. The artwork is very detailed, and most of them are lit from within so that they can glow amazingly during the night.
The Art Behind the Candle Floats
Candle Float Parade
The float procession of the candle is the cornerstone of the Thai Candle Festival. This ceremony takes place at the center of the city and presents a distinctly tremendous spectacle of highly detailed candle floats that demonstrate the handiwork and creativity of craftsmen in the region. All the floats are distinctly accompanied by dancers in full traditional Isaan uniforms, folk dance ensembles, and costume student actors, all contributing to a poignant sight and sound tapestry.
It starts in the morning and extends to the afternoon, the floats slowly gliding along the major avenues, allowing watchers to have ample time to appreciate their intricate designs. It's not an eye candy affair, it's a religious zeal celebration and ethnic pride moment. Neighborhoods compete with one another to devise the most symbolically and aesthetically challenging floats, so each parade becomes uniquely intriguing every year.
Candle Float Parade
Wax Carving Competitions
Organized during the days before the great festival, the wax carving competitions highlight the elegance of the Thai Candle Festival firsthand. These competitions are organized in pre-designated locations in the city, where teams of sculptors take their large blocks of beeswax and sculpt them into mythological majesty and religious symbols. Visitors can watch as these masterpieces are created, seeing occasionally the careful techniques used to create fine detail, expression and symbolic imagery.
It's not a question of speed or showmanship, seeing and being seen by the judges includes historically accurate representation and spiritual power of the finished work. For the curious interested in ancient Thai arts or sculpture, this is a rare and valuable opportunity to learn about the art form firsthand. Local schools, temples, and commercial carving teams vie with each other, displaying an attitude of friendly competition and deep community pride.
Wax Carving Competitions
Night Illumination
At the night before the grand parade, the Thung Si Muang Park is transformed into a dazzling wonderland as all the candle floats are laid out and illuminated for viewing by the public. Night Illumination is the name of this spectacle and ranks as one of the most magical experiences during Thailand's Candle Festival. As night and evening descend, each float is lit up from within or set under spotlights, and the wax glows with warm, golden light.
The park's grounds are crowded with people walking slowly along beside the floats, taking photographs, and soaking up the peaceful but inspirational atmosphere. Folksong pervades the air, and vendors sell local delicacies, handicrafts, and souvenirs. Unlike the busier parade, the Night Illumination offers a contemplative experience where you are given time to enjoy the creativity at a leisurely pace.
Thung Si Muang Park
Cultural Performances
Cultural performances are staged throughout Ubon Ratchathani during the festival, adding texture and substance to the celebrations. Traditional Isaan music troupes perform on local instruments like the khaen (bamboo mouth organ), while dance troupes stage folk dances that depict village life, harvest rituals, or tableaux from local legend. These are staged in public plazas, school auditoriums, and cultural centers, and even during the parade itself.
The dances are mostly slow and graceful, executed in very ornate costumes and with hand movements that dramatize stories with strong Thai and Buddhist origins. In addition to music and dance, there are puppet shows, dramatic performances, and even modern interpretations of the classic tales. For international visitors, it is a chance to connect with the heart of Thai culture beyond the visual.
Cultural Performances at the Festival
Sakon Nakhon
This northeastern province offers a more restrained Thailand's Candle Festival. The temples and locals create beautifully crafted candles that are paraded through town amid traditional music and folk dancing. The celebration here is centered on communal participation and religious observance, so it's ideal for tourists who prefer a more restrained, spiritual experience.
Sakon Nakhon, Thailand
Surin
Renowned for its elephant festival and Khmer heritage, Surin also features a breathtaking Thailand's Candle Festival. While less extravagant than Ubon's, Surin's floats are marked by solid local taste, blending Thai and Cambodian art techniques. Parades are accompanied by colorful displays and elephant performances in Surin, making it a unique entertaining venue for families and culture enthusiasts alike.
Surin, Thailand
Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat)
As a major Isaan city, Korat also has its own Thai Candle Festival featuring giant floats, cultural displays, and public art installations. The city's central park becomes a stage for live music, dance, and educational displays on Buddhist traditions. Visitors may walk through local markets, stop at carving demonstrations, and view nighttime lantern releases.
Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat), Thailand
Read more: Top 5 Most Popular Thailand Festivals
While the Thailand’s Candle Festival is the main event, it is a great way to ease your way into deeper Thai cultural experience. Ubon is more rural than Thailand's major cities, so it's ideal for those who seek real, unpretentious experience. Visit nearby temples like Wat Thung Si Muang or Wat Nong Bua, sample Isaan food at the markets, or go for a leisurely cruise along the Mun River.
Part of the Thai Candle Festival is not just about looking at wax figures, it's more about touching the heart and soul of a nation. It's a time to see how traditions that date back hundreds of years are kept alive through art, religion, and community cohesiveness.
Explore more about Thai culture
Thailand’s Candle Festival is quite possibly the most stunning and symbolic of all Thai festivals. It captures the essence of Buddhist values, traditional craftsmanship, and local spirit. Don't miss the chance to witness the glow of this lovely festival. Book your Thai Candle Festival with Asia King Travel now and let us guide you through the light of the heart of Ubon Ratchathani.
