| Bangkok
Songkran Festival |
Schedule
: 12-15 April 2002
Venue
: Khao San Road, Bang Lamphu, Sanam Luang, Wat Maha
That, and Wat Pho
Origin
:
The Songkran Festival is an important festival of Thailand
and is an event that promotes the fine art and culture of
Thailand for foreigners and the public to appreciate. Everyone
can participate in the festival. It is a fun-filled affair
that is hugely popular. This is a festival that attracts
foreign tourists to Thailand who make plans to visit Thailand
to coincide with the festival.
Activities
:
- Merit making, bathing Buddha images, releasing birds and
fish, and paying respect to elders.
- Floral floats procession and a procession bearing the
Phra Phutthasihing Buddha image.
- Cultural performances.
- Miss Songkran pageant and Little Songkran Kids pageant.
- Traditional Thai sports like short and long sticks and
hoop Takro.
- Songkran water throwing.
| Nearby
Tourist Spots : |
| -
Maha Kan and Phra Sumen forts (Phra Nakhon) |
| |
were
built in the time of King Rama I, stretching along canals
encircling Bangkok to the Chao Phraya River. The two
forts are the only ones left from a total of 14. |
| -
The Grand
Palace (Phra Nakhon) |
| |
consists
of the throne halls of Chakri Maha Prasat, Chakkaphat
Phiman, Dusit Maha Prasat, etc. |
| -
Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram or Wat Phra Kaeo (Phra
Nakhon) |
| |
is
a temple without monks. King Rama I ordered the construction
of a palace temple in the same style as Wat Phra Si
Sanphet in Ayutthaya. |
| -
National Museum (Phra Nakhon) |
| |
was
originally the private museum of King Rama IV. |
| -
Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamaha
Wihan or Wat Pho (Phra Nakhon) |
| |
is
called "the first university in Thailand" because King
Rama III ordered the compilation of texts and inscribed
them on stone plates around the temple so the public
can learn from them. |
| -
Wat Ratchanaddaram Worawihan or Loha Prasat (Phra Nakhon) |
| |
is
Thailand's first and only castle. |
| For
more information, contact : |
| -
Bangkok Tourism Promotion Center. |
| |
Tel.
(02) 2257612-5 |
| -
TAT. |
| |
Tel.
(02) 6941222 ext. 1962, fax (02) 6941384 |
