Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival

The Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival (Thai: งานประเพณีแห่เทียนเข้าพรรษาอุบลราชธานี), the most elaborate of the traditional parading of candles to wats (Thai: แห่เทียน, romanized: hae thian), is held in Ubon Ratchathani,[1] Isan, Thailand, around the days of Asanha Puja (which commemorates Lord Buddha's first sermon) and Wan Kao Pansa (which marks the beginning of vassa).

At the start of the Lenten period, it is traditional in preparation for the rainy season for the devout to donate to items for the personal use of monks, and of candles to dispel gloom in their quarters and elsewhere within the wat.

The more elaborate versions are accompanied by scenes of Hindu and Buddhist mythology sculpted in wood or plaster and coated with wax.

On Asanha Bucha day, the candles are taken to Thung Si Mueang, a park in the middle of the city, where they are decorated and then exhibited in the evening.

The candles are paraded through the city centre on floats, accompanied by representatives of the respective institutions.