The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced the annual Songkran
Festival, which is celebrated throughout Thailand, as one of its four major
cultural festivals to be specifically promoted to residents of the Middle East.
The Songkran festival, which takes place every year from the 13th - 15th of
April throughout Thailand, celebrates the traditional Thai New Year and was
traditionally a time to visit and pay respect to elders, including family
members, friends and neighbors, however today its most obvious form of
celebration is the throwing of water. People roam the streets with containers of
water or water guns, sometimes mixed with talcum powder, or fragrant herbs, and
drench each other and passersby. The water is meant as a symbol of washing all
of the bad away and represents a clean start to the New Year.
Says Mr. Pramoth Supyen, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Dubai
and Middle East Office; "The Songkran Festival provides a wonderful opportunity
for visitors and Thai locals to interact with each other. It's all about good
clean fun and it's perfect for kids, both big and small and of all ages!"
Mr. Supyen adds; "Festivities are the seventh wonder of Amazing Thailand, and
the Songkran Festival is one of four festivals that we have highlighted as a
must-experience event for visitors from the Middle East."
The Seven Wonders of Amazing Thailand include; "Thainess", "Beaches", "Nature",
"Health & Wellness", "Trendy", "Treasures" and "Festivities".
As part of the festivities of Songkran, many cities, such as Chiang Mai in the
North, conduct parades through the streets with highly ornate and decorative
floats adding to the festive atmosphere. Additionally, Songkran is a time when
many towns and cities hold beauty pageants as a popular form of charity event.
