The Songkran Festival: Traditional New Year's Day
THE SONGKRAN FESTIVAL
Do we have everybody?! .. Guys, over here… there’s our bus. Please settle down.
So, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Chiang Mai, Thailand. My name is Thu and I’m gonna be your tour guide for the next three days.
Before we get to the centre of the city, I want to tell you a bit about our three-day trip. As you all know today is the 13th of April At this very moment, all the provinces around the country are ready to celebrate the Songkran festival.
The Songkran Festival [sǒŋ.krāːn], is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April.
Origin:
(Songkran has traditionally been celebrated as the New Year for many centuries, and is believed to have been adapted from the Sankranti Hindu festival. It is now observed nationwide, even in the far south. However, the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in here, the northern city of Chiang Mai)
The festival lasts for three days:
Day 1 + 2
Out-door market
Sand carvings
Dragon boat race
Floating river lanterns
The first two days' activities are concentrated on the banks of the Lancang River.
On the first day, a grand celebration marks the beginning of the festival. An out-door market is set up, where locals go for New Year shopping. It is also a great place to purchase local souvenirs. Local food and snacks are other highlights travelers may not want to miss. If you look out of the windows, you will see many beautiful sand carvings, which have been created by the local artists in the past two weeks.
In the afternoon, there will be a dragon boat race held on the Lancang River to ring out the old year. At night, the river banks are colorfully lit, and local people float river lanterns on the river. The practice is thought to drive bad luck away and bring good luck.
Day 3
“Bathing the Buddha”
Water splashing ceremony
Reunion
Beauty pageant
The third day is also the climax of the festival. It is reserved for water
Do we have everybody?! .. Guys, over here… there’s our bus. Please settle down.
So, good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Chiang Mai, Thailand. My name is Thu and I’m gonna be your tour guide for the next three days.
Before we get to the centre of the city, I want to tell you a bit about our three-day trip. As you all know today is the 13th of April At this very moment, all the provinces around the country are ready to celebrate the Songkran festival.
The Songkran Festival [sǒŋ.krāːn], is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April.
Origin:
(Songkran has traditionally been celebrated as the New Year for many centuries, and is believed to have been adapted from the Sankranti Hindu festival. It is now observed nationwide, even in the far south. However, the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in here, the northern city of Chiang Mai)
The festival lasts for three days:
Day 1 + 2
Out-door market
Sand carvings
Dragon boat race
Floating river lanterns
The first two days' activities are concentrated on the banks of the Lancang River.
On the first day, a grand celebration marks the beginning of the festival. An out-door market is set up, where locals go for New Year shopping. It is also a great place to purchase local souvenirs. Local food and snacks are other highlights travelers may not want to miss. If you look out of the windows, you will see many beautiful sand carvings, which have been created by the local artists in the past two weeks.
In the afternoon, there will be a dragon boat race held on the Lancang River to ring out the old year. At night, the river banks are colorfully lit, and local people float river lanterns on the river. The practice is thought to drive bad luck away and bring good luck.
Day 3
“Bathing the Buddha”
Water splashing ceremony
Reunion
Beauty pageant
The third day is also the climax of the festival. It is reserved for water