Wax Festival Held in Suphan Buri, Thailand
- 14 years ago
Thousands flock to view unique wax sculputures as Thais mark the Buddhist Lent season. For many Buddhist monks and lay followers, it marks the beginning of a retreat which lasts through the three months of the rainy season.
Thousands flocked to Thailand's central province of Suphan Buri on Tuesday to mark the beginning of a special wax festival.
This Buddhist festival is also called the "Rains Retreat" as monks and sometimes lay followers take a vow to stay inside their temples during the long rainy season.
During the festival, locals and ethnic tribes hold performances, and display giant wax sculptures, as well as hold beauty pageants and parades.
This year, there are 10 enormous wax sculpture floats from various communities, each showcasing the unique art and culture of its ethnic tribes.
Tourists and locals crowded the street to see the wax sculpture parade which ran down the main road of the province.
[Stefan Littlefield, British Tourist]: (English)
"It's a nice feeling. I've never been here before. I have never known you can make candles that big."
The sculptures are created by artisans in temples across the city who spend months designing, sculpting and carving ornate designs.
[Visrut Inhyam, Event Organizer]: (Thai male)
"We highlight the uniqueness and local way of life of each district, including the six ethnic tribes presenting in the parade."
Organizers say they are hopeful this year's festival will attract well over the 80,000 visitors that attended last year.
The festival runs through Wednesday.
Thousands flocked to Thailand's central province of Suphan Buri on Tuesday to mark the beginning of a special wax festival.
This Buddhist festival is also called the "Rains Retreat" as monks and sometimes lay followers take a vow to stay inside their temples during the long rainy season.
During the festival, locals and ethnic tribes hold performances, and display giant wax sculptures, as well as hold beauty pageants and parades.
This year, there are 10 enormous wax sculpture floats from various communities, each showcasing the unique art and culture of its ethnic tribes.
Tourists and locals crowded the street to see the wax sculpture parade which ran down the main road of the province.
[Stefan Littlefield, British Tourist]: (English)
"It's a nice feeling. I've never been here before. I have never known you can make candles that big."
The sculptures are created by artisans in temples across the city who spend months designing, sculpting and carving ornate designs.
[Visrut Inhyam, Event Organizer]: (Thai male)
"We highlight the uniqueness and local way of life of each district, including the six ethnic tribes presenting in the parade."
Organizers say they are hopeful this year's festival will attract well over the 80,000 visitors that attended last year.
The festival runs through Wednesday.