CHIANG MAI SONGKRAN FESTIVAL
April 12 - 15, 2011
All around Chiang Mai
One of the best places to experience Songkran is in Chiang Mai, where it is celebrated on a grand scale with a flavour uniquely and entirely its own, attracting visitors from far and wide.
This year, Songkran Thai New Year festivities scheduled for April 12-15 will be held at temples, in the vicinity of the city’s gates and around the city moat.
Devout Buddhists visit the temple for merit-making and to listen to sermons. Lustral water is sprinkled on sacred Buddha images, such as the Phra Puttha Sihing image, and also poured over the hands of monks in a gesture of reverence. Donations are also made to the temple. Enjoy traditional Thai cultural performances held in the temple ground.
One of the highlights of the festival is the 'Songkran Beauty Queen Procession' that takes place on Songkran Day itself — April 13. Meanwhile, many other events leading up to the main attraction are spread over several days and it is here that the visitor gets to see various aspects of Chiang Mai, first hand, — its culture, cuisine, arts and crafts, as well as the friendly people.
Highlights and Activities
- Procession of the sacred Phra Puttha Sihing Buddha image
- Buddha images bathing ritual
- Merit-making activities and presentation of offerings to Buddhist monks
- Sand-stupa building contest
- Rot nam dum hua bathing rituals as a gesture of respect to elderly relatives and other respected individuals
- Lanna Thai cultural performances and folk games
- Release of fish and birds as a merit-making gesture
- Presentation of Lanna art and culture, and folk games
- Songkran water-splashing around the ancient city moat
Contact information:
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chiang Mai Office
Tel: +66 (0) 5324 8604, 0 5324 8607
Fax: +66 (0) 5324 8605
E-mail: tatchmai@tat.or.th
Credit: Tourism Authority of Thailand (www.tourismthailand.org)
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