Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival
July 3 – 7, 2020
Thung Si Mueang and in the Ubon Municipality, Ubon Ratchathani

Vassa Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani
“Conserving Vassa Candle, Mudita of Luang Pu Man”

Ubon Ratchathani Province has been making candles and holding the Vassa Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani since 1927. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the event committee decided to cancel the festival for 2020. However, the citizens of Ubon Ratchathani Province appealed to the committee, asking them to hold the event. As a result, Ubon Ratchathani Province, together with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the Ubon Ratchathani Municipality will hold “Conserving Vassa Candle, Mudita of Luang Pu Man” in order to conserve the tradition of the Vassa Candle procession. The festival will be held on 3–7 July 2020, from 10:00am to 10:00pm at Thung Sri Mueang in Ubon Ratchathani. Activities include:

– light & sound show of Vassa Candles, which consists of royal candles and prize-winning candles from past contests. There are many types of candle: carved and molded, big and medium sized, from Wat Phasukaram, Wat Liab, Wat Phon Phaen, and Wat Maha Wanaram. The presentation of Vassa Candles will be accompanied by a light and sound show and an explanatory commentary.

– exhibition about Luang Pu Man and Buddhism, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Luang Pu Man, who was recognized as “important figures” in promoting world peace by the United Nation. The exhibition includes a biography of Lord Buddha.

– photography exhibition of Vassa Candle processions, featuring winning images from a contest organized by the Photography Club of Ubon Ratchathani Province.

– candle road zone, where activities include making beeswax candles, making molded candles, and carving candles.

– candle sculpture zone, depicting tourist attractions in 10 districts.

– cultural show zone, including a folk music show featuring Mor Lam, Luk Thung and contemporary music.

– Ubon Ratchathani’s famous local products zone, selling community products.

– temple and community visits, allowing tourists to see the Vassa Candles as well as visit local markets and sights around Ubon Ratchathani Municipality.

In order to build confidence in the prevention of COVID-19 according to public health and Safety and Health Administration (SHA) standards, and to act as an example of how to hold an event during the COVID-19 outbreak and the New Normal style of cultural tourism, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has developed a system called “Live Map” to control the number of participants so that it matches the capacity of the event space. Up to 2,000 participants will be allowed to enter the festival; they will need to register in advance at www.thailandfestival.org/งานเทียนพรรษาอุบลราชธานี2563.

For more information, contact TAT Ubon Ratchathani Office at 045-243-770, 045-250-714, or TAT Call Center at 1672.

Text & Photo Credit : Tourism Authority of Thailand (Thailand Festival)