Cultural News: Top Stories

Songkran Festival is celebrated in all parts of Thailand

Thailand Government Public Relations Department Translate This Article
11 April 2014

Thailand - Many foreigners are joining Thai people in celebrating Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, which features colorful cultural programs in various parts of the country.

Often referred to as the 'Water Festival' among foreigners, Songkran is celebrated not only in Thailand but also in neighboring countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and southern China.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced the official opening ceremony of its 'Grand Songkran Splendors 2014,' with fun and family-friendly activities arranged for locals and visitors alike, from 11 to 20 April 2014.

It is joining hands with various provincial authorities in hosing Songkran Splendors activities in 12 major provinces in the four regions of the country. These provinces include Ayutthaya, Suphan Buri, Chon Buri, and Samut Prakan in the Central region; Chiang Mai and Sukhothai in the North; Khon Kaen, Nakhon Phanom, and Nong Khai in the Northeast; and Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phuket in the South.

TAT Governor Thawatchai Arunyik said that the Songkran Festival is one of the most joyous and meaningful celebrations for the Thai people and one that goes back many hundreds of years. He urged tourists to join the celebrations of the world's most unique water festival. This festival has been enjoyed by Thais for many hundreds of years. Everyone wanted to see it continue with its ancient values intact and the fun of the water play that so many people around the world come here to enjoy.

This year, he said, TAT has arranged many activities which will appeal to both local and international tourists alike. As well as the usual fun of water splashing, visitors will also be able to experience the ancient cultural aspects of Songkran in Thailand.

According to traditional Thai beliefs, water is a symbol of purity, prosperity, and happiness, and has always played a vital symbolic role in day-to-day Thai living down the generations—be it at weddings, funerals, and even temple ceremonies.

The theme of this year's Grand Songkran celebrations was chosen to reflect the traditional beliefs that the element of water is imbued with near miraculous qualities. Water, after all, is life and during Songkran, helps to unite families and bring friends together.

TAT stated that the Songkran Splendors 2014 should also help cement Thailand's reputation as ASEAN's regional tourism hub. The fun and festivities of the traditional Thai New Year will once again raise awareness of the Kingdom as a fun place to visit and showcase its unique festivals to foreign tourists.

Although the festival is celebrated throughout the Kingdom, each region also has its own style of celebrating this special occasion. It is the festival that Thai people of all ages wait for every year, while many foreigners find Songkran a great time to visit Thailand.

Every day Global Good News documents the rise of a better quality of life dawning in the world from good news reported by the press; and highlights the need for introducing Natural Law based-Total Knowledge based-programmes to bring the support of Nature to every individual, raise the quality of life of every society, and create a lasting state of world peace.

Translation software is not perfect; however if you would like to try it, you can translate this page using:

(Google)
(Altavista babelfish)

Send Good News to Global Good News.

Your comments.