Vacation Thailand - Festivals & Events  ... by ash-hotel.com
thai festivals, songkran, loy krathong, river kwai festivals, buffalo races

Festivals are an essential part of Thai life and as such offer the visitor a valuable opportunity not only for having fun, but also for gaining an insight into various aspects of Thai culture. This is especially true in the rural areas where the year is still dictated by the agricultural cycle and times of toil are punctuated by seasonal festivals that serve as both holidays and propitious occasions.

Mary festivals follow the lunar calendar and are thus moveable feasts, while others have set annual dates. There are, however, so many throughout the year that whenever you arrive in Thailand you can be pretty sure of being in time for one special occasion or another.
Songkran Festival
Nationwide 12 -16 April 
The traditional Thai New Year is an occasion for merrymaking in Bangkok as well as in other parts of the country. Thais mark the occasion with religious ceremony as well as public festivities. Anyone who ventures out on the streets is likely to get a thorough soaking, but all in a sprit of fun and goodwill at the peak of hot season.

Songkran comes from Sanskrit language which means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. Songkran Festival falls on April 13, 14 , 15 of every year.
April 13 is "Maha Songkran Day" which means a big step of changing,
April 14 is "Nao Day" which means the day after Songkran Day and before the old Thai New Year's Day, and
April 15 is "Taleung Sok Day" which means Thai New Year's Day. In some ways, Songkran resembles the Christian holiday of Easter. Young and old dress in new clothing and visit their temple, where they offer food to the monks. It is a day of celebration as well as a feast day for the monks, and music is often played as a backdrop to the festivities.
On the eve of Songkran Day, housewives give their homes a thorough cleaning. Worn-out clothing, household effects and rubbish are burned in the religious belief that anything old or useless must be thrown away or it will bring bad luck to the owner.
During the afternoon of the 13th, Buddha images are bathed as part of the ceremony. Young people pour scented water into the hands of elders and parents as a mark of respect while seeking the blessing of the older people. In ancient times, old people were actually given a bath and clothed in new apparel presented by the young people as a mark of respect for the New Year.
The whole country usually celebrates Songkran, but the merriest festivities always take place in Chiang Mai. As a result, Thailand's second largest city is always crowded with revelers, and visitors wishing to experience the fun of a Chiang Mai Songkran must make arrangements months in advance.

Yasothon Rocket Festival
Phaya Thaen Park, Yasothon  May 
Of regional celebrations, perhaps most spectacular is the Yasothon Rocket Festival held in the Northeast in May. At this time, huge home-made rockets are fired into the air as an invocation for rain, the timely arrival of the monsoon being crucial for the rice harvest. Whether the rockets actually encourage the rain or not, no one in Yasothon misses this occasion for having a wild, joyous time before the arduous work of another agricultural season begins.

Royal Ploughing Ceremony  -
Sanam Luang,  Bangkok - 15 May 
This ancient Brahman ritual celebrates the official commencement of the rice-growing season and is staged at Sanam Luang, the large field across from the Grand Palace. It offers priceless insights into the traditions, rites and pageants that have for long regulated the lives of the people. Colourful costumes are worn by participants who perform various ceremonies believed to forecast the abundance of the next rice crop.

Asarnha Bucha Day
nationwide -  full-moon day of the eighth lunar month
The full-moon day of the eighth lunar month commemorates the Buddha's first sermon to his first five disciples after attaining Enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. Evening candlelit processions are staged in all Thai Buddhist temples.

Buddhist Lent Day
nationwide -   one day after full-moon day of the eighth lunar month
This day marks the beginning of the annual three-month Rains Retreat during which Buddhist monks customarily stay inside their monasteries to study and meditate.
Phansa is the most auspicious time for Buddhist ordinations since it marks a period of renewed spiritual vigour.

Pattaya Marathon
Pattaya City  July
This annual event at Thailand's scenic beach resort attracts world-class runners and local competitors who compete on one of the most picturesque routes in Southeast Asia. The marathon and mini-marathon races are competed in several different classes

H.M The Queen Birthday
Nationwide  12 August 
Throughout Thailand, publie buildings are decorated in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on the occasion of her birthday. The most splendid are to be seen in Bangkok, particularly along Ratehadamnoen Avenue and in the area around the Grand Palace, where government offices and streets are garlanded with coloured lights.

Naga Fireball Phenomenon
Nong Khai Mekong River - the full-moon day of the twelve lunar month
Monday 21 October 2002, Friday 10 October 2003, Thursday 28 October 2004
See for yourself  the beautiful, mysterious and unexplained Naga Fireball natural phenomenon and enjoy  a whole variety of activities. Amaze yourself as you watch the mysterious globular fires of Naga Fireball - resembling fire flies from a distance, the crimson balls shoot up quietly from the Mekong River  The phenomenon occurs each year full moon night of 11 month of lunar year You can also participate in a whole host of other  activities in this area of ancient cultures   More Details

Buffalo Races
Chon Buri - near Pattaya October 
The water buffalo is one of the mainstays of a Thai farmer's life, but in this annual event, they are put to more amusing uses than ploughing local fields, namely in buffalo races and contests pitting buffalo against man. Beauty contests add to the fun of a festival that attracts crowds from nearby seaside resorts.

Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Amphoe Kathu, Muang & Thalang in Phuket 
Saturday 05 - 14 October 2002, Friday 26 Sep - 04 Oct 2003, Thursday 14 - 22 October 2004
Monday 03 - 11 October 2005, Sunday 22 Oct - 30 Oct 2006
This annual festival originated among immigrant workers during the 19th century in Khatu District and remains one of Phuket's major events. Residents of Chinese ancestry undertake a ten-day vegetarian diet, and there are ceremonies at local Chinese temples and parades featuring remarkable feats by ascetic believers. Generally during the ninth month of the lunar calender.

Loy Krathong
Nationwide - the full-moon day of the twelve lunar month - 
Tuesday 19 November 2002, Saturday 08 November 2003, Friday 26 November 2004
Loy Krathong, by contrast, is a quieter more romantic event in which homage is paid to the Mother of Waters. All over the country, people gather at rivers, ponds, and lakes under the moonlight to float krathongs, small lotus-shaped offerings containing incense, a candle and a coin. It is a moving and magical   More Details

Surin Elephant Round - Up Show
Surin Main Studium - Surin    November 
Internationally famous, this annual event brings crowds of visitors to the provincial city of Surin, where some 100 trained elephants are assembled. Among the spectacular shows are wild elephant hunts, tug-of-war between elephants and men, demonstrations of log-pulling skills, and a parade of elephants outfitted for medieval warfare

River Kwae Bridge Festival Week
River Kwae, Kanchanaburi 25 Nov - 06 Dec 
Bridge on the River Kwae, Kanchanaburi made famous in the movie of the same name, the Bridge on the River Kwae is the setting for this 2 week-long series of events in a province that also possesses many other attractions. Highlights include a light & sound presentation at the bridge, archaeological and historical exhibitions, and rides on vintage trains.

H.M. The King Birthday
Nationwide - 05 December 
The deep reverence felt by all Thais for their King is perhaps unique in the modern world, and his birthday provides an annual occasion for public expression. Government buildings, businesses, and homes all over the country are elaborately decorated and the area around the Grand Palace is spectacularly illuminated.

Royal Regatta
Nai Han Beach, Phuket December 
Nai Han Beach, Phuket This annual event takes place in the blue waters of the Andaman Sea off the island of Phuket, sponsored by the Phuket Yacht Club and other groups. Competitors come from Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries as well as Thailand, and trophies are awarded in several ifferent categories

hotels, resorts, lodgings and accommodations in .........
Bangkok || Chiang Mai || Chiang Rai  || Hua Hin / Cha -Am ||  Krabi ||  Khao Lak
     Koh Chang  || Koh Lanta ||  Koh Samui ||  Koh Phi Phi || Koh Samed  
           Korat || Khao Yai || Kanchanaburi || Nong Khai ||  Phuket  
           Pattaya || Rayong ||  River Kwai  ||  Trang || Other Cities  

Home || Golfing Holidays ||  Sightseeing Tours || || Eco-Tours
Profile of Thailand, its Cities, Attractions,Tourist Information & Maps

 
    Internet Sales and Reservation Bangkok office
     e-mail : : tourdesk@ash-hotel.com  website : http://www.ash-hotel.com
    
   147/58 Pinklao Nakhorn Chaisri Road
    New Southern Bus Terminal  -  Bangkok 10700 Thailand
    Tel: (662) 435 7514, 423 2263  ( 5 lines auto )      Fax: (662) 435 7515