The Royal Thai Army offers candles to two countries: Thailand and Malaysia.

Thailand - Malaysia join hands to organize activities to promote Buddhism, offer candles during Buddhist Lent in 2 countries, strengthen ASEAN relations on the occasion of Buddhist Lent. Mr. Chaipol Suk-iam, Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs, presided over the candle offering ceremony at Wat Nathawi, Nathawi District, Songkhla Province, in the project to organize activities to promote Buddhism, offer candles for the Buddhist Lent of 2 countries, foster ASEAN relations on the occasion of Buddhist Lent 2024 at Wat Nathawi, Nathawi District, Songkhla Province and Wat Suthi Pradittharam (Wat Plai Ramai), Pendang District, Kedah State, Malaysia, along with executives, officials of the Department of Religious Affairs and the Office of Culture of Songkhla Province. Mr. Chaiyapol Suk-iam, Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs, said that the Department of Religious Affairs, together with the Songkhla Provincial Cultural Office, organized activities to promote Buddhism, offer candles for Buddhist Lent in 2 countries, and foster ASEAN relations on the occasion of the Buddhist Lent Festival, Songkhla Province, 2024 at Wat Nathawi, Nathawi District, Songkhla Province, Thailand, and Wat Wisutthi Pradittharam (Wat Plai Ramai), Kedah State, Malaysia, to promote Buddhism by using important Buddhist holidays as a medium to foster good relations among countries in the ASEAN region and using religious and cultural dimensions to strengthen good relations with neighboring countries, Thailand and Malaysia. Thailand organized a candle offering ceremony on August 15, 2024 at Wat Nathawi, Nathawi District, Songkhla Province. Thailand and Malaysia organized a candle offering ceremony and organized a visit to learn Thai through teaching and learning in temple schools in Malaysia. The exchange of knowledge on religion, arts, and ASEAN culture (Thailand-Malaysia) in collaboration with the Kedah State Cultural Association and related networks used the temple as a 'community learning center', long drum dance performances, Manora dance performances, and cultural identity performances. 'Red Mill Jakang Dance' to exchange ASEAN cultural traditions and activities to meet and discuss and exchange Thai-Malaysian cultural traditions 'Trace the footsteps of Saiburi, Thai cultural traditions, Siamese people' together with Mrs. Lekha Suwannachatri, Songkhla Provincial Culture Officer, Mr. Bau Wong Al Bau Ek, Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly, Mr. Tang Eedam, President of the Kedah State Siam Association, Vice President of the Malaysian Siam Association at Wat Suthi Pradittharam (Wat Plai Ramai), Kedah State, Malaysia. The Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs added that Buddhist Lent is an important day in Buddhism when monks will stay at the temple without staying overnight, or what is called 'residence'. It is the first day of observing the precepts and practicing Dhamma for 3 months. Buddhist Lent is also designated as the first day of doing good deeds. Activities that people like t o do during Buddhist Lent include going to the temple to make merit, casting candles for the Buddhist Lent, offering candles for the Buddhist Lent, and abstaining from vices. Songkhla Province is a province that borders Malaysia, and there has been a long-standing exchange of cultural traditions in the area. In the past, some parts of Malaysia were under Thai rule. Therefore, the people in the Thai-Malaysian border area have a way of life and culture that are well-blended, becoming a multicultural society similar to Buddhists in the lower south of Thailand. As a result, temples in Malaysia have become the center of the Buddhist community in organizing important Buddhist activities in Malaysia, just like in Thailand. This is to encourage Buddhists to apply religious principles to their daily lives appropriately, and to build unity and peace in the neighboring ASEAN countries, allowing the people to participate in building international relations. Both government, private and public sectors should create good r elations in religion and culture among each other in the ASEAN region by using religious dimensions to sustainably develop society into a good society with morality and ethics. Source: Thai News Agency