Thailand
Information
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When arriving
in Thailand ask for free copies of Thaiways magazine and Thaiways
maps from the information counter at airports or hotels.
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| Major
Events & Festival 2008 |
| *New
Year's Day
(1 Jan 08) |
| Thai
people celebrate New Year nationwide. However, grand-scale celebrations
take place in many areas in Bangkok and major provinces like
Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Phuket. In Bangkok, you can enjoy the
exhilarating countdown events on the night of December 31 at
Ratchaprasong area (Central World Plaza), Rama VIII Bridge,
the National Stadium, Silom and Sanam Luang. |
*Magha
Puja Day
(on the full-moon
day of the 3rd Thai lunar month = 21 Mar 08) |
| One of the
holiest Buddhist holy days, Magha Puja Day marks the occasion
when 1,250 saint-disciples of the Buddha spontaneously gathered
to hear his preaching. |
Chiang
Mai Flower Festival
(Taking place for 3 days from the First Friday of February =
1 - 3 Feb 08) |
 This
festival is held to promote the growing of flowers and decorative
plants in Chiang Mai, featuring a parade of colourful petalled
floats and beauty contests.
|
Lion
Dance Festival
(2nd
& 4th days after the Chinese New Year = 7 - 8 Feb 08)
|
 Most
colourful lion and dragon dances are staged by the Chinese
community in Nakhon Sawan City and in Chinatown, Bangkok. |
| The
day to commemorate the founding of the present Chakri Dynasty
in 1782. |
| *Songkran
Festival
(13 - 15 Apr 08)
|
 The
traditional Thai New Year, joyfully celebrated throughout
the country with rituals of merit making, honouring elders,
and parades of dancers and music troupes.Water
splashing, an amusing way to make you cool in the hot season
makes the festival most interesting. It is celebrated in a
grand way in Chiang Mai and at Phra Pradaeng near Bangkok. |
| *National
Labour Day
(1
May 08) |
| To
celebrate the Labour Day, a great number of Thai labourers gather
at Sanam Luang to join the festivities held by the government
which include pop concerts, cultural shows, dances and a variety
of fun activities and entertainment. |
| *Coronation
Day
(5
May 08) |
| The
day when the reigning King Bhumibol was crowned as the 9th king
of the Chakri Dynasty in 1950. |
| *Ploughing
Ceremony
(9 May 08 |
 Presided
over by the King, this ancient Brahmanic ceremony is held
at Sanam Luang in Bangkok to mark the beginning of the planting
season and to bless the farmers with bumper harvests in the
year.
|
| Rocket
Festival (
May 08) |
 Called
"ngan bun bang fai" in Thai, it is a unique
festival of the Northeast, most elaborately celebrated in
Yasothon province. Bamboo rockets are launched as an annual
plea to gods for plenty of rainfall in the rainy season. |
*Visakha
Puja Day
(on
the full-moon day of the 6th Thai lunar month = 19 May 08)
|
| It
is one of the most important Buddhist holy days. On this day
in different years, the Buddha was born, attained Enlightenment
and entered Nirvana. |
*Asalha
Puja Day
(on
the full-moon day of the 8th Thai lunar month = 17 Jul 08)
|
| On
this day the Buddha gave his first sermon to his first five
disciples after his Enlightenment. |
*Khao
Phansa Day
(1st
day of 8th waning moon = 18 Jul 08)
|
| The
first day of the three-month period of Rains Retreat when monks
meditate and study the Buddha's doctrine and laymen renew their
commitment to follow the precepts of Buddhism. Monks are required
to stay at their resident temples throughout the Rains Retreat
period.
|
| Candle
Festival (1
- 19 Jul 08) |
 People
in many provinces in the Northeast celebrate Khao Phansa Day
by arranging processions of folk dances and floats to the
monasteries, carrying
huge, intricately carved candles to be lit continuously throughout
the Rains Retreat period. Grand celebrations take place in
Ubon Ratchathani province. |
| *HM
the Queen's Birthday (12
Aug 08) |
 To
celebrate the Queen's birthday and the Mother's Day, a grand
celebration is held at Sanam Luang in front of the Grand Palace.
There are free concerts and performances given by many popular
Thai artists and a variety of entertainment. Buildings along
Ratchadamnoen Road and other main roads are decorated with thousands
of colourful lights, flags and portraits of the Queen. |
| King's
Cup Elephant Polo (Sep
08) |
| King's
Cup Elephant Polo annually takes place in Hua Hin. Besides the
exciting tournament, you will be fascinated by the elephants'
intelligence in a variety of performances. |
| Vegetarian
Festival
(28 Sep - 7 Oct 08) |
 During
this period, people of Chinese origin in Phuket and Trang
provinces make merit by abstaining from food and oil from
animals, holding processions of god statues along the streets,
and observing traditional magical rites as a sacrifice to
their gods.
|
| Boat
Races
(normally
after the end of Rains Retreat on the full-moon day of the 11th
Thai lunar month
in October) |
Courtesy of TAT |
Taking
place in Sakon
Nakhon on 9-13 Oct, Surat Thani on
11-19 Oct, Nan on 25-26 Oct, and Buri
Ram on 1-2 Nov. |
| Traditional
boat races are held to celebrate the Buddha's return to earth
after spending one season preaching in heaven. |
| *
Chulalongkorn Day (23 Oct 08)
|
| Held
to commemorate the death of King Chulalongkorn the Great (Rama
V) who passed away in 1910. |
Loi
Krathong or Festival of Light
(on the full-moon day of the 12th Thai lunar month = 12 Nov
08) |
| |
Loi
Krathong is the most romantic festival of this country. In the
evening, people gather at the waterside to float krathongs,
lotus-shaped
vessels lovely decorated with flowers and lit candles, as a
thanksgiving and worship to the Goddess of Water. Magnificent
celebrations are held in Sukhothai and Chiang Mai.
|
Surin
Elephant Round-up
(The 2nd weekend
of Nov = 15 - 16 Nov 08) |
 A
northeastern province, Surin is famous for its world-famous
elephant round-up. The show features elephant football, elephant
race and hunt and elephants in ancient battle. |
| The
River Kwai Bridge Week
(24 Nov - 5 Dec 08) |
Courtesy of TAT |
It
is held in Kanchanaburi province to commemorate the horrible
ordeal suffered in the construction of the Death Railway to
be used by the Japanese army as a route of supply from Thailand
to Burma in World War II. The festival features a historical
exhibition, fun fair, bazaar and exciting light & sound
presentation. |
| *HM
the King's Birthday
(5 Dec 08) |
|
| Huge crowds gather at Sanam
Luang and on Ratchadamnoen Road in Bangkok on the evenings
of the 4th and 5th to celebrate jubilantly. |
| *Constitution
Day (10
Dec 08) |
| It
is to commemorate the day on which Thailand's first Constitution
was promulgated by King Prajadhipok (Rama VII) in 1932. |
*
New Year's Eve (31 Dec 08)
*A
public holiday
Schedules are subject to change without notice. For more information,
please check with TAT, tel. 0 2250 5500 (150 lines).
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Top
| *The event dates are tentative, please check
before travelling. |
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