Thailand’s Festivals and Parades: a Cultural Experience

In 2023, more than 5 million Thai people travelled for the Songkran Festival.
So much of the appeal of Thailand is the sense of culture and tradition. In this blog, we are going to explore some of the traditional festivals and parades as a way of better understanding the Asian country. For those travelling around Thailand, participating in these traditions can be a great form of immersion.

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Songkran

Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year festival, celebrated from April 13 to 15. For those wondering, this is because Thailand observes the lunisolar Theravada Buddhist calendar. The festival itself is known for its parties, traditional practices, and of course, the water festival.

In one of the world’s biggest water fights, Thais collect water in buckets, water guns, water bottles and basically anything else that can hold water, and have a massive water fight. It’s a great time, but has a significant spiritual significance as well.

The main focus of Songkran is moving forward, and the water is used to symbolically wash the previous year away. This helps to prepare for the upcoming year. Indeed, the word Songkran originates from a phrase that means “passage of the sun”.

But Songkran isn’t just about water. People often wake up early during Songkran to visit Buddhist temples and listen to monk preachings. They also pour clean water over Buddha statues to represent purification and good fortune, as well as pouring water over the heads of elders to show respect.

Distant family members return to spend time with their loved ones, and they clean spaces such as houses, school and offices in preparation for the new year.

Cities and towns all over Thailand organise parades that feature traditional Thai music, dance and cultural performances. The music festivals are especially fun, which serve as an extension of water festivals. Famous streets in Thailand transform into vibrant parties, where you can find water cannons, foam machines and loud music.

For something even crazier, you can celebrate Songkran with elephants. Elephant sanctuaries open up for visitors to celebrate, as the elephants use their trunks to spray water on visitor.

There are many great places to celebrate Songkran, including Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. But those who can’t get enough of it recommend a trip up to Khon Kaen, where their festival lasts for five days.

Loy Krathong

For those less drawn to the chaos of Songkran, the Loy Krathong lantern festival might be preferable. Usually falling in November, The Thai Festival of Lights and Lanterns takes place in Bangkok, where you can see thousands of krathongs flickering with candle light far into the distance.

Thai people celebrate Loy Krathong for a number of reasons. It is a way of thanking the Water Goddess for her abundant supply as the main rice harvest season draws to a close. Others see it as a way of allowing anger or negative feelings to float away. Thai people traditionally released their krathongs onto rivers and small canals, but ponds and lakes are used now as well. Lanterns are sometimes used in Bangkok, but the Yi Peng festival in Chiang Mai is the best lantern festival Thailand has to offer.

You also have the chance to see fireworks shows, as well as parades and music, which make the festival even more spectacular. There are beauty contests where contestants wear traditional Thai clothing and costumes, and you can even enter into krathong making contests!

Phi Ta Khon

Phi Ta Khon, also known as the Ghost Festival, is held annually in the Dan Sai District of Loei Province in northeastern Thailand. Part of the traditional Boon Luang Festival, Phi Ta Khon takes place in June or July – depending on the lunar calendar – and it is known for its colourful celebrations, handmade masks, traditional dances and lively processions. Anyone is welcome to join the Phi Ta Khon, you just need to be wearing a spooky mask. It is a lively atmosphere, with people engaging in funny dances to entertain the crowd.

This parade is loved by the Thai people, yet no one is certain where or when it started. There are, however, three major theories.

The first is that “Phi Ta Khon” came from “Phi Tam Khon”, which means “ghosts following people”. The Legend of Vessantara and Madri says that Prince Vessantara and his wife Madri left the forest for the city, and forest angels, animals and ghosts disguised themselves as humans to blend in with the villagers and say goodbye.

Then there is the legend of Pu Ye-Ya Ye (Grandparents Ye), which goes that there was once a giant tree that reached heaven, blocking out the sunlight and bringing darkness to the city. An elderly couple known as Grandparents Ye volunteered to cut down the tree in exchange for being remembered after they die. They cut down the trees with large axes, which took them more than three months. However, the tree fell on them and they were killed instantly. Nonetheless, the city was bright again, and the villagers erected a house where they kept the hair (or khon) of the deceased couple.

Finally, the last theory sees the Phi Ta Khon as a homage to the spirits of ancestors, who are believed to have become guardian angels of the city.

Chiang Mai Flower Festival

For one of the most picturesque experiences Thailand has to offer, a trip to the north in February is in order. Known as the “Rose of the North”, Chiang Mai earns its reputation with this beautiful festival.

The Chiang Mai Flower Festival is very popular with locals and tourists. Taking place mainly around Buak Hat Park in the Old Town area of Chiang Mai, the festival starts on the first Friday of each February. The area gets closed off from traffic, and turns into a market for the weekend, with stages for entertainment, food vendors and stalls that sell all kinds of flowers and plants. You can check out the plaza in front of Tha Pae Gate for music and beauty contests, or wander all around Chiang Mai appreciating the beautiful floral displays. In total, there are more than 200 different flowers and plants on display.

First held in 1976, the Chiang Mai Flower Festival has grown into a significant event over the years. Not only does it serve as a source of pride for the locals, but it also reflects the growing importance of the Thai horticulture industry. So take the entire family, and have a great time soaking in beauty, the colour and the fragrances of the festival.

Conclusion

While many Thai festivals are colourful, artistic and extremely fun, it is always important to show respect to the cultural significance. Most Thai festivals originate from Thai culture and tradition, be it spiritual or religious, so they are a great way of understanding and immersing yourself in Thai culture.

We know you’ll have a great time exploring Thailand and its traditions. If you’re planning a trip to Thailand, you can remit money using e-Pocket.

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