At the invitation of the Governor of Ubon Ratchathani Province, the Royal Bhutanese Embassy and Bhutanese students in Thailand participated in the Candle Festival on July 16 and 17. The embassy participated with a float, which included a choeten made of candle in keeping with the theme of the festival, while Bhutanese students performed cultural dances at the festival parade. Bhutan was the only participating country in the Candle Festival.

The Candle Festival is unique to Ubon Ratchathani Province and marks the beginning of the Buddhist Lent. The magnificent candle and wax sculptures are presented as merit-making offerings and are displayed to the public/visitors in a festive procession before being taken to the temples. The customs and tradition related to this Buddhist festival dates back 117 years and has been preserved by the local communities of Ubon Ratchathani.

Staff Reporter