BANGKOK, March 28 (TNA) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited will jointly organize the Water Festival 2019 to celebrate the Songkran Thai New Year in April at four provinces – Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Udon Thani and Phuket.
Kamolnai Chaixanien, Senior Vice President of Thai Beverage Pcl. told a press conference at Wat Phra Chetuphon that festival will be held between April 13-15 under cooperation of the company, the tourism ministry, the culture ministry and the Royal Thai Navy to preserve Thai culture.
It is the fifth year and this year, it is the first time the event is added in Thailand’s activities of the ASEAN Cultural Year.
About 200,000 foreign and Thai tourists joined the festival last year and it expected the number of tourists would grow at least five per cent this year.
Festive and cultural activities include merit-making ceremonies such as sprinkling scented water onto the Buddha images, building sand pagodas, the traditional water pouring ceremony, water play and cultural shows.
In Bangkok, the festive events will be held at nine areas, connecting nine piers. Free express boat service will be offered to festival goers.
Nine areas are Wat Phra Chetupon, Wat Arun Ratchawararam, Wat Kalayanamitr, Wat Prayurawongsawas Worawiharn, Maharat Pier, Yodpiman River Walk, the Asiatique the River Front, Lhong 1919 and Sook Siam at ICONSIAM.
Other venues in the regions are the Lanna Traditional House Museum at Chiang Mai University, the Baan Chiang World Heritage cultural ground in Udon Thani and Dibuk Road in Phuket. (TNA)