Amazing castles made of wax

The ‘Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival 2018,’ taking place from October 19-24, will feature amazing displays of wax sculptures and exciting long-boat races at Nong Han Reservoir, Ming Muang ground and HRM Srinakarin Park (Somdet Phra Srinagarindra Park) in this northeastern province.

This annual festival is held at the end of Buddhist Lent or Ok Phansa, which is on the 12th to 15th days of the waxing moon in the 11th lunar month.

The highlight of the six-day festival is the wax castle parade on October 23 (14th day of the waxing moon) which will make its way around town to Wat Phra That Choeng Chum, where each wax castle will be set up for Buddhist worship. People believe that at Buddhist Lent, Buddha will come down from Tavatimsa Heaven (Sawan chan Dāodeung) to help people escape from their sadness. At 06.00 hrs. on the following day of October 24, there will be merit offering of food to monks at Wat Phra That Choeng Chum.

The long-boat racing takes place before this, on the night of October 20 at Nong Han Reservoir. This is also when many local people gather to start preparing their beautifully decorated wax castles for a wax castle contest scheduled for October 23 at the Ming Muang ground.

Along with the wax castles and long-boat racing, the ‘Sakon Nakhon Wax Castle Festival 2018’ offers much more in the way of unique Thai local experiences, including traditional performances, music, a wax flower stick exhibition, food zone, OTOP local product sales, cycling tour of Phu Phan viewpoint and temple merit-making.

For more information, contact TAT’s Nakhon Phanom Office on Tel. 04322 7714-5 or e-mail: [email protected]