Songran 2016: ask for program !

Within a week, the festivities of Songkran will begin in Thailand. They even begin on April 10 with a big and beautiful opening ceremony in Bangkok. If the Thai New Year is celebrated throughout Thailand, here are the main festivities  for the 2016 edition.

Samut Prakan (22-24 April)

Phra Pradaeng in Samui Prakan is home to one of Thailand’s most famous Songkran celebrations. The ethnic Thai-Mon people of Phra Pradaeng, just in the outskirt of Bangkok, celebrate the festival at later dates than in the rest of the nation. Visitors can enjoy a procession of magnificent floral wagons, contests of Miss Songkran and Mister Loi Chai, as well as learn about the cultures of ethnic Mon through their folk plays and game of Saba.

For more information, contact: Phra Pradaeng Municipality at Tel: +66 (0) 2463 4841 or the TAT Bangkok Office at Tel: +66 (0) 2276 2720-1.

Kanchanaburi (12-17 April)

Sangkhlaburi in Kanchanaburi boasts a unique Mon’s Songkran celebrations. Highlights include the ceremony to purify the revered Buddha statues via bamboo pipes that can be kilometres in length, and the indigenous beliefs and practices of the local people of Sangkhlaburi where men will voluntarily lay down on the street to make a human bridge for monks to walk upon to the purifying area both before and after finishing the ceremony. The monks are then carried back to the temple by the village men. Join other merit-making activities; such as, bringing sand into temples to build the Mon’s sand pagoda, and bringing waters to giving an evening bath to elders who are observing religious precepts or rite in the temples.

For more information, contact: TAT Kanchanaburi Office at Tel: +66 (0) 3451 1200, 3451 2500.

Sukhothai

Thai Puan’s elephant ordination tradition at Ban Had Siew (7 April): Join the unique ceremony of Thai Puan ethnic group for the elephant parade and experience an ordination ceremony which will take place at Wat Had Siew, Si Satchanalai District, Sukhothai.

Song Nam – Oi Tan ceremony, Si Satchanalai (8-12 April): Join the worshipping ceremony of Phra Maha Thammaracha I and the royal dynasty as well as enjoy the Lady Oi Tan – Miss Songkran competition and the Chang Pho Mueang parade at Si Satchanalai Historical Park.

Thalay Luang Holy Water 2016 (9-11 April): Join the Songkran festival and merit-making activities by bathing the local images with holy water at Thung Talayluang, Mueang district.

Sawankhalok (11 – 15 April): There will be a Songkran and Food Festival at the main stage in front of Wat Sawang Arom, Sawankhalok district.

Retro Songkran Splendours at Sukhothai Historical Park (12 – 14 April): This is one of the most important of the regional centres for celebrating Songkran in Thailand. The celebration here is held to celebrate Sukhothai as an ancient capital of Thailand, and will be organised as a replica of what had taken places hundreds of years ago. People are encouraged to wear traditional Thai costumes to attend the event.

For more information, contact: TAT Sukhothai Office at Tel: +66 (0) 5561 6228-9.

Chiang Mai (12-16 April)

Chiang Mai’s Songkran Lanna, also called the ‘Prapeni Pi Mai Mueang’ lasts five days. Highlights include joining the procession of Chiang Mai’s prominent Phra Buddha Sihing image as well as bathing the image, and taking part in a parade bringing sand and Sali (the Bodhi tree) clutches to temples, cultural events and performances, international food festival and fun fair.

For more information, contact: TAT Chiang Mai Office at Tel: +66 (0) 5324 8604-5.

Nakhon Phanom (11-15 April)

Pleasant Songkran, Thai-Laos New Year: Join the locals in the ritual of offering of sticky rice to the Buddhist monks, enjoy a ‘Saba Toy’ competition and a sand-pagoda building. Visitors can also pay homage to the Phra Thai, enjoy shopping in the ancient market, watch cultural performances and take part in the Songkran celebrations with seven ethnic groups of Nakhon Phanom.

Renu Nakhon: Join the traditional celebrations of Songkran, see the ‘Phu Thai’ traditional dances and the ‘Bai Sri’ ceremony. There is also a Miss Songkran Phu Thai procession, chances to taste the local cuisine and learn of traditional ways of life of the ‘Phu Thai’ ethnic groups. A Miss Renu Nakhon beauty contest will be held on the Cultural Road, Renu Nakhon district.

For more information, contact: TAT Nakhon Phanom Office at Tel: +66 (0) 4251 3490-1.

Nakhon Si Thammarat (11 – 15 April)

Songkran Nang Dan Parade is another unique Songkran celebration where visitors can enjoy the colourful procession of ‘Nang Dan Mueang Nakhon’ which is a traditional ceremony based on Brahmin beliefs and welcomes the God Shiva God down to the earth. Also, join the bathing of the highly-revered Phra Buddha Sihing image, join the Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual or the ceremony to request for blessings from the elders, enjoy local plays and ancient city tours as well as a light and sound presentation and cultural activities. The activities will be held at Suan Sri Thammasokarat and Abode of the Shiva God in the Mueang district.

For more information, contact: TAT Nakhon Si Thammarat Office at Tel: +66 (0) 7534 6515-6 or Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality at Tel: +66 (0) 7534 2880-2.

Ayutthaya (13-15 April)

Ayutthaya Historical Park (13-15 April): The only place in the world where visitors get the chance to enjoy water fun with elephants! Other activities also include merit-making activities, bathing the Buddha image, building sand pagoda, and enjoy traditional Thai dances.

For more information, contact: TAT Ayutthaya Office at Tel: +66 (0) 3524 6076-7.

Viharn Phra Mongkolborpit (13 April): Join locals in celebrating Songkran, merit-making activities around town, enjoy the Miss Songkran pageant and elaborately-decorated floats and elephant parades, and many other religious and cultural activities.

For more information, contact: Ayutthaya Municipality at Tel: +66 (0) 3525 2168.

Bang Pa-In (14 April): At Wat Thong Bo, Bang Pa-In district, visitors can help to bathe the local Buddha images using bamboo tubes and enjoy cultural procession of the Thai-Mon ethnic groups. There will also be Mon-style merit-making ceremonies during which sacred cloth is put around the main chedi of Wat Thong Bo.

For more information, contact: Baan Pho Sub-district Administration Organisation at Tel: +66 (0) 3535 0125.

Suphanburi (13 – 15 April)

The biggest venue for Songkran celebration is on Nane Kaew Ton Tai Road, in front of the Suphanburi bus terminal. Join the procession of the highly-revered Luangpor To, the sacred golden Buddha image of Suphanburi which will be paraded around town. Enjoy cultural, merit-making and fun-filled activities, shopping and food fair throughout the event.

For more information, contact: TAT Suphanburi Office at Tel: +66 (0) 3552 5880, 3552 5867 or Suphanburi Provincial Administration at Tel: +66 (0) 3553 5380.

Nong Khai (6-18 April)

Bathe the revered Luang Por Phra Sai Buddha image as it is paraded along Jenjobtid Road through the Naga fountain on Prachak Road to Wat Pho Chai the Royal Temple in Mueang district. The procession of Luang Por Phra Sai is held only once a year for worshippers to pay homage to this sacred Buddha image of Nong Khai people.

For more information, contact: TAT Udon Thani Office at Tel: +66 (0) 4232 5406-7.

Chon Buri (16 – 17 April)

Bang Saen: the unique Songkran celebration in Bang Saen is called “Wan Lai.” Traditionally, it was a New Year celebration for local fishermen. Among the traditional merit-making activities that continue to this day is the sand pagoda building which today has become an annual competition. Several other fun activities such as sea boxing, folk plays, and water splashing fun can also be enjoyed.

Other places around Chonburi: fun venues for Songkran celebrations also include Ko Sichang (at Phra Buddha Sihing hall), Bang Phra Beach, Sattahip, Pattaya beaches, Na Klua, and Sri Racha.

For more information, contact: TAT Pattaya Office at Tel: +66 (0) 3842 7667, 3842 8750.

Khon Kaen (5-15 April)

The ‘Dok Khun, Siang Kaen Songkran and Khoa Niew Road Songkran Festival’ of Khon Kaen is recognised for its exciting and joyous Songkran celebrations. Highlights take place on Khao Niew Road with a lot of exciting and fun activities as well as a floral parade, traditional Isan-style dance, enjoy the fun of water splash to the max, stage shows and performances throughout the event.

For more information, contact: TAT Khon Kaen Office at Tel: +66 (0) 4322 7714-6.

Phuket (11 – 13 April)

Patong Beach: Join the local people and tourist folks at Phuket for “Songkran on the Beach” at the famous Patong beach. There will be several merit-making activities such as Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual, the parade of Phra Budha Sihing image, cultural shows, and various competitions and fun-filled entertainments.

For more information, contact: TAT Phuket Office at Tel: +66 (0) 7621 1036, 7621 2213.

Koh Samui (12-13 April)

Highlight includes the water play along Chawang Beach Road, the ‘Rod Nam Dam Hua’ ceremony, and Samui Muay Thai Angels matches.

For more information, contact: TAT Koh Samui Tourism Centre at Tel: +66 (0) 7742 0504.

**Look out for regular updates on the exact dates at each of the following locations which will be provided once they become available. But in general, the dates should be from 13-15 April.

Source: press release