Festivals in Bangkok - Experience the Thai Culture
Festivals in Bangkok
Here is the list of 8 Festivals in Bangkok - Experience the Thai Culture
1. Chinese New Year
One of Bangkok's most widely cherished festivals, Chinese New Year, attracts massive crowds on the streets with dragon dances and firecrackers. Several shopping outlets offer festival discounts during the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year is an excellent time for travel and exclusive visits.
Date: 10 February 2024
2. Songkran Festival
Songkran Festival is a significant and abundantly celebrated festival in all of Thailand. With mass water games and frolic, most outlets are shut during the Songkran celebrations. Songkran is a great time of reunion amongst natives and can prove to be a remarkable traveller experience as well!
Date: 13 to 15 April, every year
3. Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival)
The Moon Festival, also known as the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, originated in China. During The Moon Festival, engaging stalls can be witnessed throughout the city, displaying gourmet food items. With flavours ranging from peanut butter, coffee, and chestnut to green tea, stalls sell a variety of confectioneries during the Moon Festival.
Date: 17 September 2024
Venue: Yaowaraj (Chinatown)
4. Vegetarian Festival
Observed across Thailand, the Vegetarian Festival, also known as Tesagan Gin Jay, is a nine-day celebration. During the Vegetarian Festival, many Thai people refrain from eating meat, consuming liquor, consummating, and gambling. The celebrations come to life with massive temple decorations, dragon dances, and fireworks.
Date: 15 October to 23 October 2024
Venue: Bangkok Chinatown
5. Chinese Ghost Festival
Originating in China, the Chinese Ghost Festival is celebrated across the globe as well. The popular belief behind the festival is ghosts visit the Earth as the gates of the lower realms open during the full moon of the seventh lunar month of the Chinese calendar. People generally offer food, flowers, and candles to these ghost visitors.
Date: 18 August 2024
Venue: Bangkok
6. Asahna Bucha Day
The Asahna Bucha Day is a highly important Buddhist festival as it marks the initiation of Vassa. With various ceremonies such as the ‘Wian Tian’ conducted at Buddhist temples, several donations of offerings are carried out during Asahna Bucha. Some places host monk parades, creating a celebratory atmosphere!
Date: 20 July 2024
Venue: All over Thailand
7. Khao Phansa
Khao Phansa also known as the ‘ rains retreat’, is the first day of Buddhist Lent. During the three-month fast that begins with the Khao Phansa, Buddhist devotees are forbidden to consume meat, alcohol, and tobacco. On Khao, Phansa devotees offer candles, flowers, robes, and food to monks as they witness numerous worshipers washing the feet of the monks to atone for their sins.
Date: 17 October 2024
Venue: Saraburi
8. Mother's Day and Father's Day - Yellow Day!
The people of Thailand are fiercely devoted to the ruling monarch, and they mark the birthdays of their rulers as Mother's Day and Father's Day in the country. Mother's Day is celebrated on the Queen's birthday on August 12th while Father's Day is celebrated on December 5th. Both days are national holidays marked by festivities such as parades, music performances, traditional food stalls and visits to the temple. On Mother's Day, mothers are invited to their children's schools, where songs and dances are performed in their honour. It is customary to wear yellow or golden attire on Father's Day. Both days see huge decorations across the cities of Thailand and people often put up large Thai flags and portraits of the king and queen in their homes.
Dates:
12 August - Mother's Day
5 December - Father's Day
These aforementioned festivals are the ones you should definitely consider indulging in during your trip to Bangkok, Thailand. Festivals are at the very core of Thailand, and all of them are celebrated with much enthusiasm and at a great scale. So, don’t miss out on them, when you have a real chance to take part in them!