The 3rd International Wax Sculpture Exhibition 2008
	The Ubon Ratchathani Arts Exhibition Presentations of I-San folk art and culture with a variety of art and craft items created by the local artisans of Ubon Ratchathani being displayed in front of the Ubon Ratchathani National Museum.

July 5, 2008
The Official Opening Ceremony of the Ubon Ratchathani Candle Festival and
the 3rd International Wax Sculpture Exhibition 2008 in front of Wat Sri Ubonrat
A mini-light-and-sound parade will relate the story of the ancient tradition of candle-crafting in Ubon Ratchathani province.

July 1 - 17, 2008
Visits to nine selected candle-crafting communities of Ubon Ratchathani

July 17, 2008
Lenten Candle Exhibition around Thung Sri Muang Park

July 18, 2008
The Candle Festival and Candle Parade 2008 Opening Ceremony

As the seasonal monsoon rains descend over the kingdom, it marks the beginning of the Buddhist "rain retreat" and the Buddhist Lent, or "Phansa", during which all Buddhist monks retreat to the temples. This is also an auspicious time for Buddhist ordinations as it marks a period of spiritual renewal.

Known as "Khao Phansa", the Buddhist Lent is a time devoted to study and meditation. Buddhist monks remain within the temple grounds and do not venture out for a period of three months starting from the first day of the waning moon of the eighth lunar month (in July) to the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eleventh lunar month (in October).

As Ubon Ratchathani province prepares for the Buddhist Lent, men folk, ordained as well as laymen, with artistic skills set about the task of moulding and sculpting Lenten candles. As these works of art are to be presented as Buddhist merit-making offerings, the artisans pour their heart and soul into their craft. Many of these are fine examples of Buddhist art and sculpture. The candle festival is unique to Ubon Ratchathani province and the customs and traditions related to this Buddhist festival have been diligently preserved by local communities.

Making Merit
Thai Buddhists engage in merit-making as an expression of respect and gratitude by making offerings to Lord Buddha, venerable monks, past and present kings, and to parents, grandparents and their ancestors.

Making merit relates strongly to the concept of rebirth. The accumulation of merit, or bun, is believed to exert a powerful influence on one's future life and, indeed, rebirths.

According to Buddhist teachings, all actions performed in our daily lives affect our field of merit, but none more so than the support of Buddhism itself. When one offers material support to a Buddhist monk — be it alms in the form of food or donations, or voluntary work — one is helping to assure that Buddhist teachings live on. This accumulates merit not only for the giver by helping sustain Buddhism. It also provides the opportunity for future generations to make and accumulate merit. In addition to the monk's morning alms round, the presentation of the Lenten candles is also a merit-making act.

Visits to Nine Candle-Crafting Communities of Ubon Ratchathani
July 1 – 17, 2008
Nine of Ubon Ratchathani’s candle-crafting communities are noted for their hand-crafted traditional beeswax candles. Gain insight into this ancient artistic tradition and the local culture by visiting the communities and watch artisans at work making ornately sculpted Lenten candles.

17 July
LENTEN CANDLE EXHIBITION
An exhibition of Lenten Candles at Thung Sri Muang Park featuring crafted candles, moulded candles and ancient candles on the evening of Asalaha Bucha Day. Over 30 lenten candles from various temples will be moved to Thung Sri Muang Park in preparation for the candle procession the next morning. The exhibition of ornately decorated candles which will be illuminated presents a breathtaking spectacle.

		Mandapa-shaped Candles (Mondop) A mondop or mandapa is a structural form with a square base and a spired or pyramidal roof. Mondop candles are used as a receptacle to hold sacred offerings which are brought to temples during the ‘kathin’ season when monk robes are presented as offerings. Mandapa-shaped candles are used only for worship; they are not lit.
		Beeswax Candle Castle (Prasat Pueng) The beeswax candle castle is one of the elements of Buddhist merit-making rituals. These are also used in ancestor worship rituals to dedicate merit to ancestors. The beeswax ‘castle’ is also sometimes featured in propitiation rituals. However the use of the trunk of a banana tree, parts of which are folded into triangular-shapes, is preferred. Taro, turnip or sweet potato are sometimes carved into the floral shapes and dipped into heated beeswax, left to dry and used to decorate the banana tree.
		Cone-Shaped (Poom) Smaller candles are bonded together to form a cone-shaped structure. They serve a decorative purpose and are used to adorn the main candle. These are then presented as merit-making offerings.
		Candles that are tied together (Mat Ruam) Smaller candles are simply tied together into a bunch before they are presented as merit-making offerings. The cone-shaped poom and mat ruam candles are similar. Both reflect the ingenuity of villagers in creating a variety of ways to adorn their candle offerings.

Asalaha Bucha Day
Asalaha Bucha Day marks the anniversary of the day Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon to his first five disciples at the Deer Park in Benares more than 2500 years ago. It also marks the coming into existence of the Triple Gems, namely Lord Buddha, His Teachings, and His Disciples, and is therefore considered to be a sacred day in Buddhism. Asalaha Bucha Day falls on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon of the eighth lunar month (July), and precedes the Buddhist Lent, which starts on the first day of the waning moon. To observe this auspicious day, Buddhists perform merit-making tasks such as visiting temples to make offerings to the monks and to listen to sermons to purify their minds. The Buddhist precepts, or sila, are observed.

The Candle Festival and Candle Parade 2008 Opening Ceremony
July 18, 2008/from 08.00 a.m. onwards
In front of Wat Sri Ubonrat temple
The magnificent Candle Procession will comprise over 30 candle processions, led by the Procession of the Royal Candle. In addition to the crafted or moulded candles and ancient candles crafted by the various communities of Ubon Ratchathani province, nine will be masterpieces created by candle artisans for the 2008 International Wax Sculpture Exhibition. Each procession will be accompanied by local folk performances, dance and music, adding a colourful aspect to the festival.

Contact information:
TAT Northeastern Office: Region 2
Tel: +66 (0) 4524 3770
Fax: +66 (0) 4524 3771
E-mail: tatubon@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatubon.org