I would like to Present popular Thai festivals
1. Songkran
A national celebration of the traditional Thai New Year
Songkran means “movement” or “changing” since according to Thai astrology, the sun will move into a new sign of the Zodiac on this day. Songkran is also called the “Water Festival”. Water is believed to flow and wash away all bad omens during this time. Thus, it is a time for cleaning; houses, villages, temples and spirit houses.
Songkran actually begins on April 13, the end of the old year, and concludes on the 15th, the first day of the New Year. Most Thais spend these days with their families, rushing home to the provinces from which they came. Unsurprisingly, Bangkok can be relatively quiet at this time of year. As Songkran is an official holiday, all schools, banks, and government institutions are closed throughout the festival’s three days.
There are also important celebrations through the country at various tourist destinations:
• Old City Songkran Festival, Ayutthaya
• Songkran Festival, Chon Buri
• Amazing Songkran, Suphan Buri
• Phra Pradaeng Songkran Festival, Samut Prakarn
• Songkran Festival, Chiang Mai
• Songkran Festival, Sukhothai
• Fantastic Northeast Songkran, Golden Shower Tree and ‘Kan’ Festival and Sticky Rice Road in Khon Kaen
• Grand Northeast Songkran Festival, Nong Khai
• Songkran Nakhon Phnom and Thai-Lao New Year Celebration
• Hat Yai Midnight Songkran, Songkhla
• Grand Songkran Festival and ‘Nang Dan’ Parade, Nakhon Si Thammarat
• Songkran on the Beach
2. Loi Krathong
The ‘festival of lights
One of the most beautiful festivals that takes place in Thailand is the one for Loi Krathong. This is celebrated on the full moon in November. The word loi means to float, and a krathong is a banana leaf cup. People place a candle and incense sticks in their krathongs and then float them on a local river or canal.
There are many legends of Loi Krathong
1. Loi Krathong is to ask for forgiveness Pra Mae Khongkha.
2. According to Brahma belief, Loi Krathong is to worship God.
3. Loi Krathong is to welcome Buddha when he came back to the world- he had stayed in the Buddhist temple during the rainy season at the second heaven ruler to teach his mother.
4. Loi Krathong is to worship foot-print of Buddha on the Nammathanati River beach.
5. Loi Krathong is to worship Chulamanee in the heaven where the Buddhas hair is buried.
6. Loi Krathong is to worship Bhakabhrama in heaven.
7. Loi Krathong is to worship Uppakutta-dhera who observed religious precept at the middle portion of the sea.
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