Thailand Visitors Invited to Join the Fun But Expect to Get Wet! -
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 |