Festival
Thailand Chinese New Year 2012
Thailand Chinese New Year 2012
In Thailand, When is the Chinese New Year’s Day in Year 2012? It is on January 23, 2012
Chinese New Year is a lively celebration in Thailand, with dragon dances, fireworks, and banquets prepared on the streets for the benefit of ancestral spirits particularly in Samphanthawong District, the largest China Town in Thailand. Well–known for its streets of goldsmiths and numerous restaurants serving tasty Chinese cuisine, Bangkok’s Chinatown “Yaowarat” is filled with people who still preserve a distinctly Chinese way of life, including both tradition and culture. That’s why the Chinese New Year celebration in this area is a major festival and is well organized every year.
In China Town and elsewhere throughout the kingdom, lion and dragon dances are performed to ward off evil spirits, martial arts demonstrations are staged at various venues, Chinese street operas are staged along major thoroughfares and finally, fireworks are lit to mark the end of the new years celebration.
Thailand New Year: Bangkok Countdown 2011
Let’s countdown to the new year 2011 and say Happy New Year with a million of people at the Central World, Ratchaprasong Square. Then, start the new day of a year with making merit and visit the 9 Sacred Place for the auspicious and good life throughout the year.
Festivities begin on the 21st of December and culminate in the countdown on New Year’s Eve extending through New Year’s Day.
Photo from Fickr: The location is Cho Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand.
Thailand celebrates the Western New Year as well. On 31st December, there are the Bangkok countdown celebrations at several major sites: Central World Plaza, Rama VIII Bridge, and the National Stadium. Buddhist merit-making in the morning and evening folk entertainment take place on 1st January.
CentralWorld, The largest lifestyle shopping destination in Bangkok, invites everyone to join “Bangkok Countdown 2011 at CentralWorld” (Ratchaprasong Square) celebrating the festive moment (New Year Celebration) in the heart of Bangkok this New Year’s Eve.
The Kanchanaburi’s River Kwai Festival 2010
November 26, 2010 – December 5, 2010
(15.00 – 23.00)
Kanchanaburi province, in collaboration with Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Metropolitan Bank, the State Railway of Thailand, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the River Kwai Bridge Festival and the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II.
Enjoy learning the historical records through the new perspective and format of presentation that focuses on happiness, joy and impressive splendors, while also immensely honoring those who lost their lives and the families they left behind during WWII. The history illustration, combined with the stunning shows of contemporary arts of different forms, will be impressively presented under “The War is over…This is a time to Celebrate” theme. What will be featured in the festival includes:
The Light & Sound Show
Based on the avoidable tragedy that happened to mankind 65 years ago, the presentation concept is thoughtfully developed under “The War is over…This is a time to Celebrate” theme and it will be spectacularly illustrated through multi-media presentations. The first of its kind in Thailand, this show will be splendidly accompanied by the music orchestra performance in the middle of the mighty River Kwai.
Those who are interested in this show can book tickets (priced at 200, 300 and 500 THB) at:
1) Kanchanaburi Provincial Office: Tel.034-512-399
2) Kanchanaburi Tourism Promotion Society: Tel. 034-518-656
3) R.S.P. Jumbo Travel Centre: Tel. 081-5868228, 034-514906
“Street Show” Space
The setting and decorations of the surrounding area in vicinity of the Bridge are designed to be perfectly in line with the event theme. This space, for exhibits and displays, will ensure ultimate joys and inspirations you can get from the stunning performances such as Pantomime show by talented Babymine, impressive beat box by Police Lieutenant Koravik Chandaen and other shows from Kanchanaburi province.
“Art for living” Exhibition
The outdoor art exhibition on street features portrait sketching, painting exhibits and performing arts by contemporary Thai artists from all over the country from the 26th November – 5th December 2010.
For more information:
Kanchanaburi provincial Office Tel. 034-512-399, 034-515-208, 034-511-778
Or 081-702-6612 (Khun Som), 084-640-1114 (Khun Taai)
Loi Krathong Festival 2010
Loy Krathong Festival: Thailand Water Festival
Loy Krathong festival is one of Thailand Festival which occurs on the full moon of the 12th lunar month, a date which usually falls in November.
Loy means to float and a Krathong is a small, hand-made “boat” or “raft” traditionally made from the leaves or bark of a banana tree and decorated with origami-esque banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense sticks. In modern days, Krathongs are often made of specially baked bread, so the Krathongs are biodegradable, although many use styrofoam.
Many Thais believe that celebrating Loy Krathong by offering a krathong to the Water Goddess, Phra Mae Khongkha, will bring them good luck, particularly for couples, who will go to launch Krathongs together: a particularly auspicious event if the couple crafts their own krathong, although it is more common in modern days to simply buy krathongs from vendors near the water.
For This year, Loy Krathong Festivals begins during November 19, 2010 – November 21, 2010
Thailand Water Festivals 2011
Songkran or Water Festival is Thai New Year captures the imagination of travellers for both its cultural and fun attributes; the latter being enthusiastic bouts of water splashing between friends and relatives.
In Bangkok, the Songkran Water Festivals 2011 will be held between Date 11 and 18 April around the Rattanakosin Island district.
The main celebrations, in the capital, focus on bathing rites of replicas of revered Buddha images originating from various provinces in the North, South, East and central regions, interspersed with traditional food and dessert-making demonstrations and cultural performances.
The opening ceremony will take place, 11 April 2011, at Phra Chetupon Wimol Manklaram or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.
An occasion for family reunions and temple visits, Songkran begins with the “Rod Nam Dum Hua” ritual which is officially called the National Elderly Day. This ritual involves young people pouring fragrant water into the elders’ palms as a sign of humility and to ask for their blessings. Another important ritual during this water festival is bathing the Buddha, where worshipers pour fragrant water over Buddha statues at the temples and at homes. People in Thailand also splash water at each other to symbolically wash off all misfortunes.
There are also important celebrations through the country at various tourist destinations:
• Old City Songkran Festival, Ayutthaya
• Songkran Festival, Chon Buri
• Amazing Songkran, Suphan Buri
• Phra Pradaeng Songkran Festival, Samut Prakarn
• Songkran Festival, Chiang Mai
• Songkran Festival, Sukhothai
• Fantastic Northeast Songkran, Golden Shower Tree and ‘Kan’ Festival and Sticky Rice Road in Khon Kaen
• Grand Northeast Songkran Festival, Nong Khai
• Songkran Nakhon Phnom and Thai-Lao New Year Celebration
• Hat Yai Midnight Songkran, Songkhla
• Grand Songkran Festival and ‘Nang Dan’ Parade, Nakhon Si Thammarat
• Songkran on the Beach
Budget Hotels in Thailand for This Water Festival 2011
Dairy and cowbow festivals
Saraburi province’s Muak Lek district surprises visitors with its own version of country western culture.
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Dairy farming has been associated with the rolling hills of Saraburi since the 50s when pioneering farmers experimented with imported cattle. Today it is an important industry that supplies most of the popular milk products that are sold in supermarkets across the country.
Farms are concentrated mainly northeast of Saraburi town in Muak Lek district all the way to the Pak Chong intersection on Highway 2 heading towards Nakhon Ratchashima.
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With the mountains of the famous Khao Yai National Park in the distance, diary meadows nestle between hills on both sides of Highway 2.
Not surprisingly, this undulating country is the home of the National Dairy Cows Festival. All of the celebrations and activities that will interest visitors will take place at the foot of Tapan Hill in Muak Lek district, approximately 39 km northeast of Saraburi, or 145 km from Bangkok.
Festivities begin with a royal visit from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who will graciously open the event which will feature seminars, a fair and concerts.
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Visitors are probably most familiar with Chok Chai Farm one of the pioneers of the cowboy culture in Thailand. Today the farm has expanded to offer farm tours with various attractions including a zoo that appeals to families and groups. In the grand tradition of the cowboy the ranch is proud of its rustic timber restaurant serving up tender T-bone steaks. |
While individual farms in Saraburi run fine restaurants and adopt a country western themes, come 20 January they unite to host the annual Cowboy Night at the Tapan Hill venue in Muak Lek district.
The event launches with dairy cow contests, but quickly takes on a carnival atmosphere with light hearted rivalry to declare who is sporting the best cowboy or cowgirl costumes.
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According to Saraburi province’s tourism office the cowboy festival evolves into an amazing scene as hundreds of “Thai cowboys travel from different parts of the country to enjoy country western music, an exhibition of dairy and beef cow farming, cow contests, whip-cracking, roping and lariat show, and fancy gun handling. The festival venue even uses haystacks instead of tables and chairs.”
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Muak Lek district has three resorts, a health spa and a couple of campsites catering to international visitors. The district is best known for its picturesque landscape, vineyards, river rafting, ATV expeditions, hot air ballooning, mountain bike trails and even a farm where children can learn to ride horses. Most of the resorts are in Muak Lek district on the rural road 2089 that winds around 300-metre high hills from the intersection on Highway 2.
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For more details call TAT Lop buri tel: 036-422-768