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CHIANGMAI SONGKRAN FESTIVAL 2009

Tuesday, April 7, 2009 Category : , , 0


The Songkran Festival lasts for several days and is a traditional celebration that welcomes in the Thai New Year. It is one of the biggest and brightest celebrations in Thailand making it a great time to visit the country to participate in this fun and friendly event.

On the first day it is traditional for Thais to clean their house in preparation for the year ahead. The following day is given over to the preparation of food and special meals to be consumed over the coming days. The third day is the start of the Thai New Year.

On the third day, it is marked by religious ceremonies which usually take place early in the morning. Come the afternoon, it's time for the water fights which rage through the streets during which everybody, including tourists, are targets. The day is celebrated all over the country with various special events and attractions.

A popular town with tourists, Chiang Mai is a great place to soak up the atmosphere of this unique festival. The whole town gets involved in the celebrations with beauty pageants, feasts, parades, ceremonies and, of course, a huge water fight.

For more information :

Tourism Authority of Thailand Northern Office (Tourist Info)
105/1 Chiang Mai-Lamphun Road
Amphoe Mueang
Chiang Mai 50000
Thailand

Tel +66 53 248 604.

SONGKRAN FESTIVAL : WHAT DOES IT MEAN ?

Sunday, April 5, 2009 Category : , , , 0


The Meaning of Songkran Festival in Thailand

Songkran is the Thai traditional New Year and an occasion for family reunion. At this time, people from the rural areas who are working in the city usually return home to celebrate the festival. Thus, when the time comes, Bangkok temporarily turns into a deserted city.


The festival falls on April 13 and the annual celebration is held throughout the kingdom. In fact, “Songkran” is a Thai word which means “move” or “change place” as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. It is also known as the “Water Festival” as people believe that water will wash away bad luck.

This Thai traditional New Year begins with early morning merit-making offering food to Buddhist monks and releasing caged birds to fly freely into the sky. During this auspicious occasion, any animals kept will be set free. Paying homage to one’s ancestors is an important part of the day. People will pay their respects to the elders by pouring scented water over the palms of their hands. The elders in return wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity.

In the afternoon, after performing a bathing rite for Buddha images and the monks, the celebrants both young and old, joyfully splash water on each other.

The most-talked about celebration takes place in the northern province of Chiang Mai where Songkran is celebrated from April 13 to 15. During this period, people from all parts of the country flock there to enjoy the water festival, to watch the Miss Songkran Contest and the beautiful parades.
In Bangkok, the Buddha image “Buddhasihing” is brought out from the National Museum for people to sprinkle lustral water at Sanam Luang opposite the Grand Palace.

THAILAND GRAND SONGKRAN FESTIVAL 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009 Category : , , , 0


Songkran Festival is well known among tourists who visit Thailand in April, which is the hottest month. It is a must for everyone to join this festival. What they do during this long holiday is splashing clean water (sometime with a few drop of Thai perfume) to each other to reduce the heat of the summer air. For Thais, Songkran is more than the water splashing festival; it is Thailand’s former New Year day. So, we take this holiday as an opportunity to make merit at the temples and visit our respective relatives. Songkran Celebrations will be held throughout the country. If you’re ready to get wet, take a look on the following schedule and find the place to enjoy the festival.



BANGKOK GRAND SONGKRAN FESTIVAL



Date: 10-15 April 2009
Venue: The 9 Royal Temples and around the Rattanakosin Island





Songkran Celebrations of the 4 Regions


Bathing Buddha images from the 4 regions, local food and dessert making demonstrations, and cultural shows and various forms of entertainment, opening ceremony at Temple of the Reclining Buddha 10 April from 18.00-21.00 hrs


Paying worship at the 9 nine royal temples around the Rattanakosin Island
10-15 April 2009 (9.00-18.00 hrs)

Wat Phra Sri Rattanasasadaram (Wat Phra Kaeo), Wat Phra Chetuphon (Wat Pho), Wat Suthat, Wat Saket, Wat Bowonniwet, Wat Chanasongkram, Wat Rakang, Wat Arun (Wat Chaeng), and Wat Kalayanamitr

Water splashing in traditional Thai dress (Khao San Road)
4-15 April 2009 (17.00-18.00 hrs)

Banglamphu Community Songkran Activities at Santi Chaiprakarn Park, Phra Athit Road
11-13 April 2009





For more information, please contact :


The Events Planning Division, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)


Tel. +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 3470-3



TAT Call Centre 1672

Thailand Straw Birds Fair & Red Cross Fair

Monday, February 2, 2009 Category : , , , , , 0

6-15 February 2009
Venue: In front of Chai Nat Administration Hall and at Riang Hin Dam, Muang County, Chai Nat (194 km north of Bangkok)



Straw birds fair of Chai Nat is held annually in February. In the fair, tourists will witness the fantastically decorated floats of large, brightly coloured straw birds, which will join in a contest later.

There will be many other activities like students’ performances on stage to entertain visitors, exhibitions and booths from government officers and private sections, OTOP booths and stalls selling 5-star local products and food, and much more on entertainment programmes.

In addition, Chai Nat Bird Parks, situated nearby keeping more than 100 species of birds and fishes, is worth visiting.


ABOUT CHAI NAT

Chai Nat is located in the central of Thailand. In the south of formerly Chai Nat, there is a dam impounds the Chao Phraya river for flood control and to divert water into the country's largest irrigation system. The dam, part of the Greater Chao Phraya Project, was finished in 1957 and was the first dam constructed in Thailand.

CHAI NAT TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

1. Chai Nat Bird Garden or Suan Nok Chai Nat

This place is the most famous traveling place in Chai Nat. It is the biggest Bird park in Asia. There are many bird species here, This garden is open from 8 AM – 5 PM

2. Chainatmunee National Museum

It is in area of Wat PhrabharomThatviharn. The museum is a two storey building. The second floor was the place for the Buddha from Tarawadee time till present. The first floor is for the Sankalok Buddha, ornaments, and ancient tools.

3. Wat ThammaMulviharn

The main temple of Chainat since Ayudhaya time. This temple was located at Thammamul hill slope, on the bank of Chaophraya river.

4. Chaophraya Dam

There are ten thousand teals here in January. The viewpoints here attract visiting travelers.

Chiang Mai Flower Festival 2009

Thursday, January 22, 2009 Category : , , , , , 0


6-8 February 2009

Venue: In the provincial town of Chiang Mai at Nong Buak Had Park


Chiang Mai is famous for its variety of valley flowers. Most of them bloom early in the year from January to February, which is regarded as the most beautiful period of Chiang Mai. The celebratory atmosphere and the tradition of the locals who have enjoyed floral beauty since ancient times are why the grand Flower Festival is organised here annually since 1977.

The most interesting highlight of the Flower Festival is the part of many flower floats decorated with a beautiful array of floral species. Each flower, with its shade of colour is carefully selected and positioned on the float to form fine patterns, words and pictures. The beauty of the flowers combined with the creative ingenuity of their arrangement make each float a work of art requiring time-consuming attention from its creators. All floats will start at Chiang Mai Train Station.

A second highlight of the Flower Festival is the beauty of the contestants that sit atop the flower floats. Each contestant wears a different local Northern costume, giving visitors and locals alike rare opportunities to witness the traditional local dresses.
Besides the parade, the Flower Festival also features a display of agricultural products, an exhibition and a contest of several species of flowers such as roses, orchids, carnations, lilies, China asters etc., a flower arrangement exhibition and competition, decorative plants, and mini garden landscaping. In addition, for all those with green fingers, there is a large variety of gardening equipment as well as various kinds of flowering and decorative plants for sale at more than economical prices.

For more information, please contact:
Tourism Authority of Thailand Chiang Mai Office
Tel: 0 5324 8604, 0 5324 8607

Thailand Beautiful Flower Festival 2007

Monday, November 19, 2007 Category : , , , , , , , , 0


28 December 2007 - 6 January 2008
Venue: Hat Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai Town, Chiang Rai Province (785 km north of Bangkok)

Chiang Rai, with its mountainous scenery, beautiful flowers and fresh air, especially in the cool season, is a recommended place for recreation. Since Chiang Rai Province is about to arrange Chiang Rai Beautiful Flower Festival 2007, you are invited to this impressive fair.
The 4th Chiang Rai Beautiful Flower Festival 2007 is scheduled to be held from 8 to 16 December 2007 at Hat Chiang Rai in Chiang Rai Town. The festival will be organized to develop Chiang Rai Province as a producing area of quality flowers and ornamental plants as well as to promote tourism of Chiang Rai Province.

During the festival there are many activities including: - The flower and ornamental plant contest- The orchid and orchid garden contest- Miss Thin Thai Ngam beauty contest- Parade of floral floats- Agricultural produce fair- OTOP trading

For more information, please contact:
Tourism Authority of Thailand Northern Office: Region 2
Tel: +66 (0) 5371 7433, 5374 4674 to 5

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