Nakhon Ratchasima, Appreciating a Mathayom 2 student in Korat who continues the tradition of candle carving during Buddhist Lent. Revealed that he dreams of becoming a skilled candle carver and wants the new generation to take an interest and help continue the tradition and culture.
At Wat Bot Kongkha Lom, Tambon Kratok, Amphoe Chokchai, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, it was bustling with locals rushing to cast candles and carve candle trees to join the annual Candle Festival 2024, which Chokchai Municipality will organize on July 19th before taking the candle procession to join the Nakhon Ratchasima Candle Festival at the Thao Suranari Monument on July 21st-22nd, 2024. This candle casting and carving event is the first time in 10 years that Wat Bot Kongkha Lom has been able to stop due to several factors, one of which is the lack of skilled candle carvers. However, this year, new craftsmen have come to help, so they can return to making candle processions again.
One of the new generation of candle carvers is
13-year-old Patthanasak, a Mathayom 2 student at Chokchai Samakkhi School, who volunteered to help carve candles and assist in every step of the process, using his free time and after school to help out.
The boy, Phatthanasak, said that he had seen the candle carving activity since he was little and had helped cast candles with the temple before. Before this, the temple had to stop carving candles. He felt sorry and was very happy that the temple had a candle procession again this year. He himself dreamed of becoming a skilled candle carver so that he could continue the beautiful local traditions and culture. He also wanted to see the new generation interested in the traditions and culture and help pass them on from generation to generation.
Source: Thai News Agency