During the evenings, parades featuring oversized, carved candles are invariably a surreal spectacle. The cultural extravaganza provides a colourful contrast ahead of what, for many, will be a three-month long period of abstinence from meat, alcohol and tobacco.
The weekend will also see sermons and chanting sessions at temples in the town. The Tourism Authority of Thailand notes that the Surin Elephant and Candle Festival is a heritage highlight and worth making detours on travel routes for.
Surin is around 400kms east of Bangkok. 12GO ASIA offers reservations services for buses and trains from Bangkok to Surin. Those who do not have enough spare time to travel to Surin can always go to the Candle Festival in Nakhon Ratchasima as this town is nearer to Bangkok.
Surin to celebrate onset of Lent with colourful festival
News in Asia
Thailand’s tourist authority has confirmed that a colourful festival to welcome this year’s Buddhist Lent will go ahead in Surin. The Esarn town’s famous elephant population will be bedecked in all their finery for parades this Friday and Saturday. There will be alms giving to the elephants for merit after the parades.