Thailand is renowned for its culture, and there’s so much to experience where that is concerned. One of the best, and most famous, festivals that happen in Thailand is Songkran. What is Songkran? Songkran is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word, Sankranti, and is a reference to the traditional New Year that is celebrated in South Asian countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. So it’s an International Thing? The traditional New Year is celebrated in many ways throughout the world, in nations such as Sri Lanka, for example, it’s the ‘Sinhalese New Year’, in Myanmar it’s called ‘Thingyan’. Only Laos and Thailand refer to the occasion as Songkran. Songkran in Thailand Since Songkran is associated with purification and washing away of bad luck and …

Thailand’s Songkran celebrations have become famous throughout the world, especially since the nation breaks into a massive water fight with people of all ages taking part in the festivities. Songkran This is the name for the traditional New Year that is celebrated in many countries across South Asia, which includes Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Cambodia. The Festivities Songkran is associated with purity and the washing away of past misdeeds, which is where the water aspect comes in. Many would visit temples, pour water on Buddhist statues, as well as loved ones are common practices. The Water Fights The ‘water festival’ is mostly celebrated by young people, and entire streets tend to get closed off to cater to this massive celebration that has become world-renowned, …

Celebrated with much pomp and pageantry, the Chinese New Year is an important cultural event that takes place not just in China, but in cities around the world which are home to a Chinese community such as Bangkok. Chinese New Year in Bangkok The Chinese New Year is celebrated by various communities in Bangkok and most of these celebrations take place in and around Chinatown. The festivities truly commence with Dragon Parades which are significantly longer than what most have seen before. Chinatown in Bangkok Bangkok’s Chinatown, the enclave of people from China in Bangkok, is a major tourist attraction in this city for it is known to be one of the oldest areas. As a result of its history, prices of land in the …

Out of the many festivals and celebrations celebrated throughout the world, Loy Krathong is among the most colourful, and anyone would be dazzled by the cultural celebrations associated with it. Loy Krathong Explained The name of this festival translates as ‘to float a basket’, and is celebrated in Thailand as well as other nations with significant southwestern Tai cultures. This celebration actually takes place under many different names as well, such as Full-Moon Poya in Sri Lanka, and Bon Om Touk in Cambodia. What Happens During Loy Krathong? The iconic concept involves krathongs, which are small boats which are crafted out a variety of materials, usually natural, and then released into the river.   Loy Krathong at Asiatique If you happen to be in Bangkok, …

Thailand is a nation that is full of all kinds of colourful festivities and celebrations. One particular occurrence that will definitely take your breath away is the Royal Barge Procession. The Beginning It is not entirely clear when the first royal barge procession took place, but it is widely believed to have been sometime in the 14th century during the Ayutthaya Period. There are many accounts from foreign visitors during this time of grand processions featuring ‘200 boats’. Modern Processions There is no concrete date when these processions take place, but are instead used to mark special ceremonies and occurrences. During the reign of the late King Rama IX, a total of 16 royal barge processions were conducted. Major and Minor Processions Depending on the …

The origins of Chinese New Year are unclear but there are myths and legends that surround how it all began. A mythical beast named ‘Nian’ awakens on New Year’s Eve to cause harm and destruction. Preparing for New Year The preparations for New Year begin several days before the actual event. It is important not to clean once the New Year has begun as you will be ‘cleaning away’ the good luck that has begun to gather inside the home. The New Year is also a time for shopping. Be sure to visit the street markets that crop up in the vicinity of 4 star hotels in Hong Kong the likes of Park Hotel Hong Kong in the days leading up to the festival. NYE celebrations New Year’s Eve …