Joanna James
Thailand's wonderful collage of chaos that is Bangkok City is truly a place that will have you spoilt for choice. Among all things fun and exciting about the bustling Thai capital, awaiting you is a slew of authentic festivals and events that treat you to a slice of the nation's fascinating culture.
While the rest of the world celebrates the new year when the clock hits 12 on the 1st of January, the Southeast Asian nation of Thailand celebrates theirs on the 13th of April, where festivities usually last until the 14th or 15th of April. It's not that Thais do not take part in the global celebration of the new year, but Songkran is celebrated more as a cultural or traditional new year. The word Songkran comes from Sanskrit and refers to the traditional New Year of the Buddhist calendar, which, while is no longer followed in the country, is one of the most valued aspects of culture.
The traditional cultural celebration has become more popular as "the water festival" thanks to the countless water fights that shower the streets of not just Bangkok but all across Thailand. What traditionally started as showering Buddha sculptures to wash away the bad deeds of the previous year has evolved into boisterous water fights that take place all across modern-day Thailand. If you don't find yourself soaking wet at the end of the day, your Songkran experience is nowhere complete. So, brace yourself to be greeted by bucketloads of water if you plan on heading out during the 3-day holiday.
On the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, people of China, including the Chinese community in Bangkok, celebrate what is called the Mid-Autumn Festival — a celebration that marks the end of the harvest season and gives thanks for a prosperous harvest. Chinese temple fairs are the highlight of the festival, which typically feature traditional Chinese performances and oodles of traditional Chinese delicacies.
The Chinese community make up a considerable portion of Bangkok's population and hence has a number of festivals and celebrations that light up Bangkok City throughout the year. The Chinese New Year, which comes somewhere between the 21st of January and 20th of February every year, is arguably the biggest celebration of the community, where the narrow alleyways of Bangkok's Chinatown are taken over by parades of dancing red and yellow dragons, vibrant lanterns and scores of stalls bursting with mouth-watering traditional delights.
nine days of no meat, bring an abundance of peace and prosperity
The 9-day vegetarian festival is a Taoist celebration that comes alive during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar every year. As the name suggests, participants should follow a strictly vegetarian diet as a way of paying respect to the Nine Emperor Gods, who are believed to bring peace and prosperity.
This strange but undoubtedly interesting traditional celebration takes place 150 kilometres outside Bangkok, but if you are visiting the vibrant capital city during the month of November, it is totally worth it to make the drive. The mischievous macaques who are discouraged to be fed with anything other than sunflower seeds are treated to a bountiful feast, where people from around the vicinity flock to contribute and experience what is definitely a fun-to-watch scene. After the long and probably tiring drive back to the city, if what you are looking for is a fine hotel in Bangkok, Sathorn is known for its stellar hotels and resorts, including the likes of Chatrium Residence Sathon Bangkok.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
