Buddhists across the
Eastern Seaboard lit the way for monks heading into seclusion with
candle parades to mark the start of Buddhist Lent. Shown here is the
beautiful effort from Lerdpanya School in Sattahip, which won the
candle-carving competition there for the fourth consecutive year.
Urasin Khantaraphan
Buddhists across the Eastern Seaboard lit the way for monks
heading into seclusion with candle parades to mark the start of Buddhist
Lent.
In Pattaya, students from Pattaya’s 11 public schools competed to
decorate the most beautiful and creative lent candles during the July 9
parade.
The procession carried the candles on lavish floats down Beach Road
where they were parked near Walking Street for display. Thirteen floats
rolled south from Central Festival Pattaya Beach along with marchers
from the Pattaya Issan Club and community organizations, many dressed in
traditional Thai costumes.
Judges led by Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon and Education
Department chief Jintana Maensurin evaluated the floats and candles at
Central Festival and Royal Garden Plaza before handing out prizes for
the most beautiful and creative candles and best float.
Pattaya School No. 7 won the top prize for most beautiful candle and
25,000 baht. School No. 2 took the 20,000 baht second prize and Pattaya
School No. 9 took third and 15,000 baht.
In the creative category, Pattaya School No. 6 won the 25,000 baht first
prize, with School No. 4 placing second for 20,000 baht and School No.
11 winning third and 15,000 baht.
School No. 11 won the parade competition and 15,000 baht. School No. 8
finished second with 12,000 baht and School No. 9 took the 10,000-baht
third-place prize.
The following day, Wattana and Jintana took a group of students from
Pattaya School No. 7 to Bunyakanchanaram Temple to present the winning
candles to monks there. The city rotates the temples receiving Buddhist
Lent candles each year.
In Sattahip, District Chief Phawat Lertmukda led the area’s
candle-making ceremony with Sattahip District Ecclesiastical chief
Tassanee Kunakorn, abbot of Bang Saray Kongkaram Temple
Top area officials were on hand for the July 9 event, the 21st year
Sattahip has organized the candle-carving and judging rite. A procession
of candles on well-decorated vehicles from 20 organizations displayed
their handiworks in front of city hall and, the following day,
throughout the district.
Lerdpanya School won the candle-carving competition for the fourth
consecutive year.
In Chonburi, Deputy Gov. Pongsak Preechawit presided over the annual
Buddhist Lent candle parade at Phra Phutta Sihing Pavilion.
The province’s culture chief, Samart Thienphunwong, said the 58th annual
pageant was organized with cooperation from the Chonburi Young Buddhist
Association.
During the parade festivities, the province handed out 150 scholarships
to area students and presented 400 lent candles to various temples in
Chonburi through each district’s top administrator. Banglamung received
50 candles, Sriracha 62 and Sattahip 20.
Pongsak said that even though the lent parade has changed over the
years, it is still necessary to preserve the traditions of Thailand.
Realistic looking wax models representing
revered monks throughout the kingdom, prepared by the city, were paraded
around Pattaya for citizens to worship on Lent Day 2014.
The gear-wheel-shaped candle from Pattaya
School No. 9, expressing the importance of Buddhism, won 3rd place.
Pattaya School No. 7 won top prize for most
beautiful candle. The candle was presented to Wat Bunyakanchanaram.
The marching band from
Sattahip School leads the procession around Sattahip.
Another beautifully presented candle and
float makes its way through Sattahip.
In Chonburi, the 58th annual pageant was
organized with cooperation from the Chonburi Young Buddhist Association.
Beautifully adorned dancers from Wat Nongyai
perform Thai traditional dance whilst dressed in Thai silk.
Students from Pattaya School No. 11
gracefully perform a Lanna dance, winning them first place in the parade
competition.
