Thai Buddhists mark Buddhist Lent with spectacular celebrations



BANGKOK: -- Thai Buddhists across the country held religious celebrations marking the beginning of the Buddhist Lent which lasts three months covering the period which is in the rainy season.

The unique celebrations feature spectacular wax candle parades on the streets with highlight in the Northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani where the wax candle festival is being held at Thung Si Mueang.

Here visitors can marvel at spectacular parade of ornately-carved wax castles around the town and be awed with the superb sculptures of wax candles by artists from around the world joining the 10th International Wax Carving Competition.

At nigh light-and-sound presentation and folk dance performances will be held

In the ancient capital of Ayutthaya province, unseen parades of wax candles on boats along the Lamchado canal in a one-kilometre long distance was revived by local residents in order to preserve this tradition.

It was a biggest religious event yesterday to mark the Buddhist Lent with candle boat procession in Pak-hai district of Ayutthaya of over 150 boats.

Small and big boats were decorated with candles carved by local artists and a myriad of colourful flowers.

Each boat tells stories of local livelihood along the canal and Thai literature, for example a folktale telling the story of the Nang Takien, a female ghost falling in love with a man.

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-buddhists-mark-buddhist-lent-spectacular-celebrations/


-- Thai PBS 2016-07-20

Is "flashing" part of the festivities?

http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/whatever-next-monk-flashing-thai-woman-video-goes-viral/149132/

Well one monk certainly did,

But in mitigation maybe he was drunk?

next year it is going to be even better,they are going to start practicing the religion in ernest instead of just spouting of about it