Joanna James
We all know that Thailand is home to a rich cultural heritage but witnessing at least one of its traditional festivals will tell you just how much the locals adore and celebrate their culture. Here are 5 notable festivals you need to experience to appreciate the true vibrancy of Thai culture.
Celebrated annually from April 13th to 15th, Songkran officially marks the beginning of the rainy season and is a time for family gatherings and temple visits. But, one of the most intriguing aspects of Songkran is the tradition of jovial water fighting in the streets as locals gleefully drench each other with buckets and hoses. This tradition emerges from the firm belief in water as an important purifier that washes away bad luck and makes way for new beginnings. This makes Songkran one of the most fun-filled festivals in Thailand that you must experience.
This is one of the more mesmerising festivals in the country celebrated on the 15th full moon of the Thai lunar calendar, which often falls in November. It honours the river goddess Pra Mae Khongkha to invoke blessings for good weather and harvest. The festival’s most significant tradition involves releasing decorated lantern boats made from banana leaves along the river, symbolising letting go of past misfortunes. If you happen to be staying at hotels in Chiang Mai near the Mae Pin River like Anantara Chiang Mai Resort, you’ll witness the river come to life with a dazzling display of candle-lit lanterns along the river.
Taking place in mid-June at Dan Sai in the Loei province of northeastern Thailand, this vibrant festival honours a former Buddha, Prince Vessandorn, who was believed to have come back to life after dying on a long journey. The celebration focuses on his return and involves large parades where participants dress in detailed ghost masks. The masks are often white in colour and feature long noses, fierce eyes and sharp teeth. Tourists are invited to participate in these parades and witness traditional dances and games, making it a truly immersive experience for the culturally curious.
Unlike most of the other festivals in the country, the Flower Festival, held every year in Chiang Mai, is not overtly religious or spiritual. Instead, it is hosted as a celebration of the city’s floral diversity and beauty, through various flower decorations, exhibitions and sales. The highlight is the large Flower Parade that begins around 8 in the morning and showcases elaborately decorated floats accompanied by traditional dancers and marching bands. The parade often ends at a public park where visitors can continue admiring the floral floats as well as additional attractions like floral sculptures, exhibitions and various cultural performances. If you’re in the city at the time of the festival, you’ll have no shortage of sights to see and things to do in Chiang Mai.
If water fights, ghost masks and vibrant floral displays weren’t enough, Thailand even has a festival that involves launching rockets into the sky! The Bun Bang Fai festival is another lively event largely celebrated in the northeastern region, that stems from ancient tradition. It is a merit-making ceremony where sending up rockets is meant to inspire the rain gods for a good monsoon before the plantation season. If you happen to visit the Yasothon province in May, be prepared to witness the sight of colourful rockers being sent up as part of various competitions.
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.
