The "Water Festival 2022" is bringing the Songkran celebration to six provinces in all four regions of Thailand, until Friday.
Organised by Thai Beverage, the seventh edition of the annual festival is aimed to showcase Thainess to the world and promote Thai cultural values through many activities in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen and Phuket.
The festival kicked off in Phuket yesterday and will conclude tomorrow. For the other five provinces, the festival will start tomorrow.
- In Bangkok, visitors will experience the traditional Songkran in a new normal style under this year's theme "Water Under Clear Style" at five royal temples and four famous pier sites along the curve of the Chao Phraya River.
They include Wat Phra Chetuphon, Wat Arun, Wat Rakhang, Wat Kalayanamitra, Wat Prayurawongsawas, Tha Maharaj, Asiatique The Riverfront, Lhong 1919 and Sook Siam@Iconsiam.
Highlight will be a river procession of replicas of Buddha Sihing statues from Asiatique pier to the five temples tomorrow from 8am to 11am. Then visitors are invited to bathe 65 Buddha statues for blessing at the riverfront open space at Asiatique. They can also take advantage of free shuttle boats to enjoy activities at each pier on all three days.
- In Chiang Mai, the Ancient House Chiang Mai will be packed with Lanna cultural shows and artisan workshops while the best of local food and snacks from 10 communities in Chiang Mai will be served on all three days.
- In Lamphun, the festival will take place for only one day tomorrow at Intayongyot Road and Wat Mahawan, allowing visitors to pay respect to Buddha's relics and Phra Laeng Phra Lue statues, bathe Phra Rod statue, and enjoy a community market and musical shows.
- In Khon Kaen, prepare to witness the original Songkran of Isan tradition and enjoy morlam shows and a retro Isan market on all three days at Wat Si Chai, which has notably reserved local identities and communities' cultural values.
- In Udon Thani, the festival will run for only two days from tomorrow to Thursday at Wat Sra Keaw, Ban Chiang Heritage Cultural Space, and Wat Santiwanaram. Expect to witness traditional Tai Puan alms giving, Ban Chiang cultural parades, Tai Puan-Ban Chiang traditional dance, and morlam dance.
