Chinese New Year
The Chinese community that resides in Thailand exerts a very
strong influence on the overall cultural heritage of the country. The
celebration of Chinese New Year, especially in the capital city of Bangkok,
pronounces the fact. Not only Chinese, but even ethnic Thais participate in the
thunderous merriment of the festival that normally falls in February every
year. It mainly sees celebration in the so-called Yaowaraj area of Bangkok,
which is Bangkok's Chinatown. The two-day carnival draws huge amounts of
tourism revenue, as many Chinese visits Thailand to witness their traditional
New Year revelries in the country.
The arrangements for the event begin days before, starting with
the ritualistic sweeping of the grounds, which is believed to lure good luck
and prosperity and ward off everything that is negative. According to legends,
the demonic beast 'Nian', who feasted on humans during the eve of Chinese New
Year, was afraid of only three things - red color, fire and loud noises. This
explains the accompaniment of the New Year merriment with crackers and copious
use of the red color. It is a ritualistic way of fending off bad luck and evil
spirits. Besides, it also espouses the importance of communal harmony and
conviviality.
During the event, people deck themselves in red outfits.
They inscribe auspicious wishes on red paper scrolls and dangle them in the
doorways, as a means of luring luck, prosperity, and inviting good family
relations. They also exchange red envelopes containing money and good wishes,
in order to celebrate the spirit of profusion. Family members also exchange
bagfuls of mandarin oranges that are emblematic of gold and believed to herald
good luck and fortune. Deafening firecrackers shriek the entire night
announcing victory over darkness and unholy spirits.
Celebration of Chinese New Year also brings to light the
exoticism and effervescent aspects associated with the traditional Chinese
culture. 'The Procession of the Golden Dragon' and 'The Lion Dance' adds on to
the vibrancy of the event. The flamboyant apparition of the Dragon King, who
comes to bless the people, and the acrobatic skills displayed in the Lion
Dance, between the Lion and the Fan Bearer (God of Smiles), attracts people in
large numbers. People come here to witness the traditional culture conquering
great heights with feisty ritual demonstrations.
Another integral element of Chinese New Year is the
significance of family values and unions. Reunion dinners on New Year's Eve are
common. People visit religious places and pay homage to departed ancestors,
seeking blessings for domestic happiness and good health. In addition to that,
people also put much emphasis on eating. Generally, people believe in eating a
variety of dishes, including whole foods like chicken and fish. Every household
cooks a storm, and even offers food to deceased ancestors. Thus, with so much
in store, Chinese New Year offers the best time to visit Bangkok and partake in
the exotic culture, tradition, celebration, and cuisine of the pulsating area
of Chinatown.
Songkran Festival
Being the traditional Thai New Year, Songkran Festival is
celebrated not in only Bangkok, but enjoys high-spirited celebration all over
Thailand. The festival ingrained in the Thai culture holds much propitiousness
in the lives of the Thais. Every year, it starts on April 13 and lasts for
three days, until April 15. The festival begins with Maha Songkran Day on April
13, which marks culmination of the previous year. The following day, April 1,
is Wan Nao, and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok, which actually marks the
beginning of the New Year. In Thai, Songkran means 'to move' or 'to change
place', denoting the change in the position of the sun in the zodiac.
Originally, the date of Songkran was calculated on the basis
of astrological observations, but now it remains fixed and falls on the same
date every year, thereby coinciding with traditional New Year celebrations of
many countries of South and Southeast Asia. Across Thailand, Songkran is
regarded as a time to honor tradition, community and family. Therefore, people
uphold family values by washing hands of elders, with scented water. Children
smear perfumed water on to the hands of parents and grandparents and bestow
them with gifts in order to show their respect. Elders of the household also
shower youngsters with good luck and generous blessings.
Rural folks who work in cities make a visit to their homes
to spend time with their families. Many people also call on neighbors and
friends and enjoy various proceedings of carousing. Apart from reveling with
friends and family, another notable feature of Songkran is the act of throwing
water. People douse each other with water infused with fragrant herbs, as water
is considered to cleanse bad deeds or 'Karma'. Streets remain filled with
rovers, armed with water containers and water guns, waiting to flood every
passerby. Moreover, the Buddha image 'Buddhasihing' housed in the National
Museum is brought out. People toss water at the holy image and seek Buddha's
blessings.
During the celebration, many people also make it a point to
visit a Wat (Buddhist monastery) in order to pray and give alms to monks.
Moreover, in order to attain good luck and prosperity, people bathe the Buddha
images in these monasteries, with sanctified water soused with fragrant herbs.
In addition, people also ritually bathe household Buddha images. Thai people go
on a painstaking housecleaning spree and discard all the old and useless
domestic items, which they believe invite bad luck. Thus, Songkran, with its
religious importance, domestic significance and drenching water battles,
remains one of the most popular festivals of Bangkok.
Royal Ploughing Ceremony
Royal Ploughing Ceremony is a traditional royal rite of
Thailand that sees celebration at Sanam Luang in Bangkok. The event takes place
during the month of April / May and heralds the rice-planting season in the
country. In Thailand, the event is presided over by His Majesty and the King
himself takes part in the ceremony by guiding the plough behind the oxen.
According to local beliefs, celebrating the event proffers an auspicious touch
to the new planting season. Originally, it was a pure Brahmanic ritual.
However, during the rule of King Rama IV, certain Buddhist elements were
incorporated into the event.
Observation of the ceremony in Thailand dates back to the
Sukhothai period. Nonetheless, the event lost its festive zeal, until King
Bhumibol Adulyadej revived it in 1960. Therefore, rice grown on the Chitralada
Palace grounds, home of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, is planted in the ceremony by
appointed court Brahmins. The King then initiates the ceremony by ploughing the
ground and offers farmers his blessings for a productive harvest. Considered as
auspicious, these seeds are then collected on completion of the ceremony by
farmers, who either mix them with their own stock or keep them as propitious
charms.
Once the ceremonial ploughing is over, two sacred bulls
tethered to a wooden plough are offered seven different platters of food,
comprising of rice, corn, green beans, sesame, fresh-cut grass, water and rice
whisky. Depending on the bulls' choice of food, court soothsayers make a
prediction on the agricultural produce for that particular year. During the
ceremony, the King also encourages agricultural production by presenting
various awards and certificates to meritorious farmers whose fields had yielded
highest amounts of produce during the previous year.
Loy Krathong
Loy Krathong is a spectacular festival celebrated across
Thailand, which commemorates The Goddess of Water. Therefore, Bangkok, which
cuddles the Chao Phraya River, evolves into a spectacle when this event sees
celebration during the month of November. It is actually a 13th century
Sukhothai tradition of Brahmin origin, adapted to Buddhism, which has thrived
as a popular festival of the country, amidst many established myths and lore.
Every year, the event takes place on the full moon day of the 12th lunar month.
It offers a spellbinding mix of culture and merriment, thus making it enjoyable
for everyone.
Central to the celebration of Loy Krathong is the 'Krathong'
- a very special boat made from banana leaves that holds offerings such as
food, lighted candles, flowers, joss sticks, etc. The tem 'Loy' on the other
hand, means 'to float'. Therefore, 'Loy Krathong' refers to the act of floating
such vessels on water, as a means of worshipping the Water Goddess. Although,
any water-body is a good place to float a krathong, the Chao Phraya is the most
preferred and thus,, poses worth a sight. It heaves magnificently, as millions
of dazzling candles glide over its bosom. Many floating lanterns ('khom loy')
also heighten the spectacle.
As in the case of Songkran celebration, the Thais await Loy
Krathong with much zeal and trepidation. The celebrations in Bangkok are
especially noteworthy, as the city dons a new garb of sights, sounds and
smells. Various hotels alongside the Chao Phraya organize events related to Loy
Krathong and the city pours out n-number of food stalls and carts to add on to
the party zing. Fireworks splatter the skies and temple fairs are also held in
the Wats. The traditional 'Miss Nopamas' beauty pageant organized during this
time also attracts huge crowds. Some of the best places to enjoy Loy Krathong
in Bangkok are - Lumpini Park, Dream World and Siam Park.
The Golden Mount Fair
The Golden Mount gleams like a tiara on top of the Wat Saket
(Buddhist monastery), located in the Banglamphu Region of Bangkok. Also known
as 'Phukhao Thong', this huge chedi with a height of 100 m and a base diameter
of 500m, seems to envelop the skyline of the city from a large distance. Apart
from its luminous appeal, the Golden Mount is also popular as a chasse that
houses the relics of the Buddha. Thus, the Wat Saket is a place of profound
religious significance and also serves as the holy site of celebrating the
Golden Mount Fair of Bangkok.
The Golden Mount Fair is held from the 11th day of the
waxing moon of the 12th lunar month to the third of the waning moon of the same
month, as per the traditional Thai calendar, and normally falls in the month of
November. During the event, the Golden Mount is draped in red cloth, and
Buddhists from various corners of the world ascend to the Wat Saket temple to
pay tribute to the holy remnants of Lord Buddha. Most importantly, during the
full moon night, swarms of devotees, with lighted candles in hands, wind their
way to the Golden Mount and pay their obeisance at the sacred coffer.
After this candlelight procession, the following day sees
the celebration of the temple fair. During this time, the whole place steeps
with a joyous spirit, and the temple ground offers scores of merrymaking in the
form of food and bauble stalls, theatrical performances, freak shows, animal
spectacles and many other entertainment sources. People regale in the exotic
'likay performances' and eat to their fill at the small eateries. Therefore, be
it for the religious connotation or simply the pleasures of communal
festivities, the Golden Mount Fair retains its credit as the most elaborate
temple fair all across Thailand till date.
Thai Beer Festival
Celebrated citywide in Bangkok, Thai Beer Festival is a
much-awaited festival of Thailand. It is the time when Thai breweries get
together and set clusters of beer gardens around the city to promote their
brands. Popular with local Thais, expatriates as well as tourists, the warmth
of the festival doubly enhances due to the delightful climatic conditions that
Bangkok experiences during that time. The event falls between October and
November, when cooler weather caresses the city and the soggy monsoons are far
behind.
Owners of breweries not only boast about excellent brands of
beer, but also bring out large pools of exotic Thai cuisines and snacks during
the event. This is a way of showing how their brands of beer perfectly set off
platters of traditional Thai food. Non-vegetarian dishes are the most common,
including a host of barbecued and roasted items, such as pork ribs, and roasted
chicken wings. Apart from the mouthwatering delicacies and array of frothy
beers, cultural shows and performances are also put up in the gardens for the
visitors.
Although Bangkok brims over with numerous beer gardens
during the celebration of the Thai Beer Festival, the most famous one positions
in front of Central World Plaza. Foamy mugs of leading brews like Singha, Chang
and Leo are served, including a few international brands like Heineken. Tables
groan under the weight of choicest culinary selection, and live performances on
stage add on to the entire ambience. Some other popular beer gardens are the
one at SCB Park Plaza at Ratchayothin, the Discovery Center on Siam Square,
Seacon Square and the popular Seri Center on Srinakarin Road.
Bangkok International Film
Festival
This festival is organized annually in February, by the
Royal Thai Government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, to promote
alternative award-winning international and local films. The event is
characterized by various workshops, symposiums, special tributes, the Bangkok
Film Market (BFM) and other notable events. The festival mainly aims at drawing
attention to the emerging filmmakers throughout Asia, in particular to those of
the Southeast Asian region.
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