Wreathed in festivities, colour and joy, the Songkran Festival celebrates the dawning of a new year in great ardour. Originally calculated according to the astrological charts, the dates have now been fixed between tyhe 13th and 15th of April. Visiting Thailand during this time of the year can be a unique experience and one of convenient Bangkok serviced apartments available within the area would be the ideal accommodation choice. Citadines Sukhumvit 11 Bangkok is a one of the best Sukhumvit serviced apartments available within the area conveniently located in the middle of all the hustle and bustle so that the visitors would not miss out on any of the fun. However, be prepared to be douched by buckets of water if one intends to roam the streets during this time as hurling bucketfuls of water at each other is a tradition fondly practiced by the Thais during this time of the year.
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Thai New Year Festival- Celebrate Songkran
Although most of the world heralds in the dawning of a New Year on the 1st of January the citizens of Thailand wait till the hot summer days of April to hark in their traditional New Year in grand fashion. Dubbed the Songkran Festival the Thai New Year is a red letter event marked across the country from the 13th to the 15th of April every year. Although the dates for the festival were declared by the yearly consultation of a solar calendar the aforementioned dates have been selected to celebrate the festival in recent times. As a national holiday most Thais head to their hometowns to hark in the New Year with loved ones as family values play a vital role in the festivities which has a deep rooted legacy in Thai culture that dates back centuries.
The first day of the festival coincides with the Rod Nam Dum Hua custom when Thais pay tribute to their elders on National Elders Day. During the first day various cultural practices are observed such as younger members of the family pouring aromatic water on to the palms of their grandparents or elders in a ritual that displays humility while asking for the blessings of the older members of the family. The second day of the festival is known as National Family Day and is devoted to meritorious activities one performs with members of the family and close relatives. Thais flock to Buddhist temples early in the morning to offer alms to priests and bathe the Buddha statue of the temple with incensed water as well as at the Buddha image home. Meritorious activities hit an all time high during this holiday as a visit to the nine holy temples of the country is considered a must by devout Buddhists. The religious edifices in Rattanokosin such as Wat Arun, Wat Phra Kaeo, Wat Benchamabophit see an influx of visitors both local and foreign origin during Songkran.
Splashing passers- by and loved ones with water on the streets of Bangkok is another familiar Songkran ritual as the act of throwing water is believed to cleanse one of the misfortunes of the year past and hark in the New Year with a refreshing start. Today this custom has evolved in to a popular New Year activity as Thais with water guns and pales of water occupy certain areas of the city where a big splash party takes place almost simultaneously every year.
Travellers in search of Sukhumvit serviced apartments should look no further than Citadines Sukhumvit 11Bangkok for all their accommodation needs. Providing guests with the best in contemporary amenities these Bangkok serviced apartments offer luxury and comfort in the heart of the Thai capital.
Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.
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Wai Khru – The Festival of Tattoos
Body art is a rather controversial art form that is often associated with modern pop culture. But many cultures across the world have used tattoos and body art to separate tribes and mark status. For the Thai, they have a magical and religious significance, with each marking giving a certain property to the wearer.
Every March the devotees of Wat Bang Phra, a temple specializing in these spiritual tattoos, flock to take part in the mass tattooing ceremony of Wai Khru or ‘Honour the Teacher’. Hundreds of people solemnly stand in line waiting to be marked with a design that carries with a unique spirit or property. It is believed that some have protective properties and the ability to repel attacks. The intricate designs come in forms of tiered pagodas, animal motifs and symbols from a mixture of Buddhist, Hindu and Brahmin beliefs. The pattern is first drawn on the skin and permanently marked with a long sharp needle dipped in ink tapped on the skin.
Sometimes as tattoos are finished, the wearer will go into a trance brought in by the spirit of the tattoo. People growl like animals, run through the streets and shake violently, many mimicking the animals in their tattoos. Volunteers and other onlookers restrain these devotees and try to bring them out of the trance. The ceremony is brought to a peaceful end in the evening with the monks showering the gathered with blessed water for protection and good luck.
The Thai tattoo culture is becoming increasingly popular among tourists with an interest in anthropology and body art. Although the temple at Wat Bang Phra is one of several such tattooing temples in Bangkok the festival of Wai Khru attracts a large crowd to its grounds. Situated near the city, it can be accessed easily from any Bangkok resort.
Thailand is also renowned for its traditional Ayurvedic treatments, a feature that can be enjoyed from many 5 star hotels in Bangkok. With wonderful views of the city across the river, luxurious amenities and relaxing atmosphere, the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa is a great spot to unwind after a long day of discovering Thailand.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony – A taste of culture
The Royal Ploughing ceremony marks the beginning of the rice-growing season and is a traditional festival celebrated in great fanfare and ardour. In order to fully soak in the ambiance of this charming event, visitors usually choose a Sukhumvit hotel to lodge in during their stay. A popular Bangkok hotel that is chosen by many is Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok which known for the comforts as well as the true Asian experience that it imparts of each one of its guests.
The date of this festival depends on astrological calculations and usually takes place in the months of May, June or July celebrating the beginning of the Buddhist lent in the Burmese month of Waso. During the festival sacred oxen are tied to a wooden plough and they are led to plough a furrow in a ceremonial ground after which the oxen given plates of food to eat. Predictions are made depending on what the oxen eat and celebrations soon ensue with lots of food, music and dancing.
Bangkok International Jazz Festival- Sway to the soothing beat of jazz
Bangkok is a vibrant city with endless events and festivals. Prior to your arrival in this great metropolis, remember to reserve your Bangkok hotel to enjoy a hassle free stay. Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Bangkok is one such Sukhumvit hotel available to all the travellers to the city and it will give you easy access to the city’s numerous attractions and events. Bangkok International Jazz Festival is one such event that you should experience without fail. This annual musical festival attracts more than 30,000 people each year and it has become the largest and the most popular event among both local and foreign music fans. The event was first started in 2003 and renowned as the best Jazz experience you can enjoy in Asia.
Nine Emperor Gods Festival – A Nine Day Celebration!
Bangkok is the capital city of the Southeast Asian nation of Thailand. The most populous city of Thailand as well, Bangkok serves as the hub of Thailand’s commercial and cultural activity. It is also one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations due to its unique lifestyle, leisure and cultural attractions, and its lively nightlife.
One of the most unique cultural festivals celebrated in Bangkok is the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. This event is a nine day long Taoist festival consisting of various traditions and rituals. This festival has a rich heritage, and is a very colourful and vibrant celebration, which provides great insights to the culture of Bangkok.
Celebrated at the beginning of the 9th Lunar month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is celebrated in several countries such as Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand. The Nine Emperor Gods are generally accepted to be 9 stars, considered to be the offspring of the Female Deity; Dou Mu, located around the Big Dipper. Other theories are that they are nine martyrs of the Qin Dynasty, who were underground Ming loyalists. There are many unique traditions associated with this event. The first is that the devotees who celebrate this festival become vegetarian for the nine days of its duration.
Prayers and other rituals are also performed throughout the nine days at river banks in a bid to invite the Nine Emperor Gods to earth, while also praying to dispel any bad fortune befallen on the people. However, the highlight of this event is the Sending off Ceremony of the Nine Emperor Gods. This ceremony involves the sending off the invited Gods bank through the river, which is accompanied by many colourful dragon boats and lion dances. This colourful festival also shows the social and religious solidarity in Bangkok, as thousands of devotees attend this event.
Located on the splendid banks of the river Chao Phraya is Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa, a luxurious Bangkok resort. Offering accommodation in a range of stylish rooms and plush suites, the hotel is ideal for a soothing stay. One can also be pampered by the luxury spa, wellness, dining and leisure services and amenities of the resort, making it one of the most recommendable 5 star hotels in Bangkok.
Chinese New Year: A Celebration of the Old and the Welcoming of the New
While the world welcomes New Year with the beginning of a new calendar, in most cultures all around the world, the New Year is welcomed in many different ways, sometimes even at a different time. The Chinese New Year is one of them where the citizens of China along with most of their neighbours such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, welcome the New Year with the onset of spring. The festival, also called the Spring Festival, starts on the first day of the very first month, continues for fifteen days and comes to an end with the Lantern Festival.
As the New Year draws close, a number of open air markets are set up selling wares such as fire crackers, toys and flowers which are often purchased as gifts. Most floral decorations are symbolic of luck, prosperity, tranquillity and even health. Therefore, the giving of flowers during this time is considered a serious business requiring much thought and consideration.
These celebrations are marked with traditions whose roots date back centuries and traditions differ from region to region. One such tradition is the Annual Reunion Dinner which takes place on the eve of the New Year when families and relatives come together. At these family gatherings, a number of traditional delicacies made from pork, chicken and fish are made and enjoyed by all those present and the night ends with the lighting of crackers. Before the end of the evening, a family portrait is taken as well. Another common practice is the cleaning of houses, gifting of presents and decorating homes to symbolize fortune and happiness.
Another practice is the giving of money in red envelopes, which symbolize wealth, by parents to their children as the New Year dawns and the money is always given in even numbers. Another sight that is commonly seen on the streets during this time are the dragon dances for it is believed that the beating of drums and cymbals in combination with the image of the dragon scares away evil spirits.
For one who wishes to visit Thailand during this time, it is best to ensure the availability of a Bangkok resort for the influx of travellers during the holiday season is high. Choosing to reside in a hotel like the Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa provides you with the option of seeing the sights, witnessing the celebrations of the new year and returning to the luxury of one of the best 5 star hotels in Bangkok and pampering themselves at their renowned spa.
Sanam Luang – A blank Space in History? Or Not?
A 30 acre expanse of empty space and dying grass in the heart of the city, not a tree to shade the beating hot sun with homeless people prowling the corners begging for money and pigeon poop covering every bit of concrete that would have been a possible place to sit is far from being charming. Sanam Luang or the Royal Field in Thailand is a pretty bleak place on the ordinary day but it has seen the birth, revolution and the make of a nation and people. During one of the many ceremonies or protests that have taken place in Bangkok the park transforms to a busy bubble of chaos with hundreds of thousands of people gathering in colorful attire to witness history in the make.
Situated in the Phra Nakhon district facing the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, is the Sanam Luang in the heart of the historic center of Bangkok, Thailand. Sanam Luang was initially known as Thung Phra Men (Royal Cremation ground) and later renamed to Thong Sanam Luang which was shortened to become Sanam Luang as we call it today. It has been a part of the people since the time of King Rama I with Royal cremations taking place as well as other ceremonies open to the public. Paddy cultivation plays a vital role in the daily lives of the Thai people and the Sanam Luang which was an ordinary plot of land in front of the palace was used to grow rice. The Royal Ploughing Ceremony and the Ceremony of Calling of Rain for paddy cultivation was conducted at the Sanam Luang with the patronage of the then monarch.
Through the ages the park has served the people as a race track, a golf course and a place for kite flying. Even today although there is no need to grow paddy in front of the palace, the ceremony of calling the rain is still conducted at Sanam Luang and the most recent cremation ceremony was of Princess Bejaratana RAjasuda, the only daughter of King Rama VI in 2012.
Anantara Bangkok Sathorn is a sought out Bangkok Hotel which is ideal for both the business and leisure traveler. It is among the best of the Luxury Hotels Bangkok has to offer.
Festivals in Bangkok – Splendid celebrations
Travellers based at luxury hotel resorts get to indulge in the finest comforts and luxury hotels such as Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas take the ultimate holiday experience to a whole new level. When in Bangkok, travellers are spoilt for choice when considering what to do. However, the region’s vibrant events and festival may make the choice for you. Some of the most interesting festivals taking place in the city are Nights at Wat Arun, Chinese New Year, Thai Kite Festival and Bangkok Songkarn Festival. Most of these celebrations afford a glimpse into the country’s unique cultural aspects whilst keeping you entertained.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony: An Ancient Rite Continued
Historically, the economies of most Asian countries depended greatly on agriculture and as a result, even in modern times the harvesting season is given great importance and prominence in their calendars as they practice rites and rituals that have stood the test of time hoping that they will make the oncoming harvest a fruitful one.
The Royal Ploughing Ceremony which is still carried out in Thailand is one such example. This ceremony is presently carried out in Thailand and Cambodia but is no longer practiced in Burma subsequent to the abolishment of the Burmese monarchy. In modern day Thailand, the ceremony usually takes place during the month of May as determined by astrology.
The ceremony is made up of a number of rituals that are of intrinsic interest. The seeds of rice are sown while oxen are used to plough the field. Subsequently, depending on what the oxen devour out of an array of food including beans, grass, water, rice and corn, the astrologers are said to predict the fruitfulness or futility of the oncoming harvest. The Thai tradition began during the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th century and an illustration of the even was depicted on their currency in the 20th century.
In modern times, the Crown Prince of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkom presides over the Royal Ploughing Ceremony when it is held at Sanam Luang in the capital of Thailand. The rice seed that is sown in the fields is obtained from the grounds of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Chitralada Palace grounds and subsequent to the sowing process, spectators gather the seed for it is said to be auspicious.
The Ceremony is truly a sight to behold as the Thai celebrate their deep rooted beliefs and cultural heritage and herald the new harvest in the hope that it is bountiful. If you are residing in a Bangkok hotel during the month of May, this event is one that you should attend if you wish to gain a spectacular insight into the culture of the Siamese people. Combine this insight into the local culture with the classic charm and contemporary elegance of Anantara Bangkok Sathorn, an urban sanctuary and one of the premier hotels Bangkok located just moments away from the heart of the city.