Festival in Thailand
Major Festivals in Thailand
Part of Thailand's tourist development strategy is to promote traditional festivals to an international audience. Which isn't to say they don't occassionally invent some new ones. Here's a list of the biggest festivals around Thailand.
Umbrella & Handicrafts at Bo Sang and San Kamphaeng Village FESTIVAL
BO SANG AND SAN KAMPHAENG VILLAGE, CHIANG MAI, JANUARY 15 TO 17
The umbrellas and handicrafts of Bo Sang and San Kamphaeng villages in Chiang Mai are popular products. Bo Sang's paper umbrellas made from mulberry paper are very famous for their dazzling colors and unique floral motifs, while San Kamphaeng is renowned for its silk and a wide range of handicrafts, such as teak furniture, lacquerware and celadon. Bo Sang Umbrella & San Kamphaeng Handicrafts Fair is organized on the third weekend of every January at Bo Sang Handicraft Centre in Chiang Mai. The fair features colorful umbrella making and painting, contests, exhibitions, as well as cultural performances, sales of handicraft products, and a Miss Bo Sang beauty contest.
Read more: Umbrella and Handicrafts at Bo Sang Village festival
CHIANG MAI FLOWERS FESTIVAL
NONG BUAK HAT PARK, CHIANG MAI, FEBRUARY 6 TO 8
Flower Festival is held in Febbruary. The festival includes decorated flower garden contests, floral floats parade in the morning and beauty pageants. The parade begins at Chiang Mai Raiway Station and passes Nawarat Bridge and ends at Nong Buak Hat Park.
Trang Uuderwater Wedding Ceremony
KO KRADAN, SIKAO DISTRICT, TRANG, FEBRUARY 13 TO 15
The inaugural Millennium Trang Underwater Wedding Ceremony was held for the first time on Valentine's Day 2000. The event which attracted 30 participants from 28 countries set a new Guinness World Record and put Trang on the world map. Video footage of the underwater wedding extravaganza was seen on international TV networks as well as in print media.
Makha Bucha Day
ACROSS THAILAND, MARCH 28
Makha Bucha Day is a Bhuddist religious observance of an event in which, firstly, 1,250 Buddhist monks congregated on this day some 2,500 years ago without prior announcement or acknowledgement to hear the Buddha deliver a Dhamma lecture. Secondly, all 1,250 monks were ordained personally by the Buddha. Thirdly, all 1,250 monks had attained enlightenment. And fourthly, it was on the night of a full moon.
Tattoo Festival
WAT BANGPHRA, NAKHON PATHOM, MARCH 3
This is one of the more unusual festivals in Thailand. It is held by monks in early March at Wat Bang Phra, a Buddisht temple located 50 kms from Bangkok.The festival is especially popular with men who belive the tattoo hold magical properties and will therefore bring them prosperity and protection, and even special powers.
Songkran ( Thailand's New Year Festival )
ON APRIL 13 TO 15
Songkran Festival is held annually from 13 to 15 April. The 13 th of April is the Great Songkran day featuring the revered Pra Phuttha sihing Buddha image parade around Chiang Mai town for bathing, sand pagoda forming, blessing of elders, and water splashing.
Visakha Bucha Day (A un world heritage day)
ACROSS THAILAND, MAY 28
On Visakha Bucha Day, Thai Buddhists and Buddhists all over the world commemorate three great events: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. The Buddha was born on this day in Lumpini. On this day, 35 years later, he attained enlightenment in Buddhagaya, India. Also on this day, 80 years from his birth, the Buddha passed away in Kusinara (Kushinagar), India. Traditional religious rites on day, includes merit-making (by offering alm to monks or visiting temples), observing of the 5 precepts, and meditation.
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