Festivals in Thailand 2012
The colourful festivals of Songkran and Loy Krathong are well-known to tourists. However, Thailand has many more unique festivals that are not always found in guide books. Please contact us with news about your event.
| New Year Merit Making |
| Sunday, 02 January 2011 03:54 |
|
Happy New Year 2011! I hope everyone had fun celebrating last night and managed to get safely back home. This time of year is really dangerous on the roads and I prefer to stay at home rather than travel to other provinces. Too many drunk drivers out there. However, the big exodus from Bangkok still went ahead leaving a virtually empty city. I drove into Bangkok yesterday and a 90 minute drive took only 20 minutes. I wish it was like that all the time.
Judging by these photographs, not everyone was nursing hangovers this morning. The main road through Samut Prakan was closed at 6 a.m. for a big merit making ceremony. I was up before sunrise this morning and headed down to the City Pillar for the ceremony. I go every year to take pictures of the Governor for my local newspaper and also for our online news magazine about Samut Prakan. By 7 a.m. there were already over 1,000 people.
This picture shows the Governor of Samut Prakan and his wife making merit by giving alms to the monks. This is a traditional Thai way of bringing yourself good luck for the new year. Merit making events like this one are not easy for the local media as we get less than a minute to get a picture of the Governor before it is all over. Each monk also has a “luk sit” or temple boy, who continually empties his alms bowl into a sack. I think I was lucky to get a clear shot.
Exactly 99 monks from nine local temples were invited to attend the chanting and merit making. Tables had been lined up on both sides of the road and people came early with food and essential supplies to offer to the monks. After the chanting, the Governor of Samut Prakan then gave everyone a blessing for a prosperous new year. Then the 99 monks came out to receive the alms. You can see the temple boys in this picture with their heavy sacks. A lot of alms were collected today.
I have posted more pictures of this merit making event on my Facebook page here. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Social Media
Twitter News
RichardBarrow: 10:20pm Judging by the radar it is raining over much of Bangkok again. Reports coming in of many flooded roads. Drive carefully out there.RichardBarrow: A picture from today in Thai history - 17 May 1992: Soldiers on the streets of Bangkok http://t.co/7U3q9lqM - MT @top10thaiRichardBarrow: I post the highlights of the best stories from Twitter in Thailand on my website http://t.co/xocfUzEl #Censorship #TestRichardBarrow: The shortlinks seem to be working again in Thailand. I guess someone was listening and sorted it out (until next time)RichardBarrow: RT @UKYorkie: Can route it through a VPN connection => Yes, but how do I tell my customers when True mistakenly blocked my online store?RichardBarrow: If Thailand cannot get its act together, one of these days I might be forced to move to a "more open" society like Burma. Very tempted.RichardBarrow: I have no idea how they expect us to run an Internet business in Thailand when they keep bungling censorship of websites.RichardBarrow: Coconuts Bangkok: Relaunch of Bangkok’s Leading News & Reviews Website http://t.co/spOlqhSGRichardBarrow: Pictures of the Rocket Festival in Northeastern Thailand by @motorcyrubjang: http://t.co/KiujJAxSRichardBarrow: Pet Expo Thailand 2012 is on at Queen Sirikit (QSNCC) from now until SundayRichardBarrow: BMA may demolish BTS Saphan Taksin station & build a skywalk across the river with travelators to BTS Surasak http://t.co/RGkhAxaDRichardBarrow: According to Jatuporn, 200,000 expected to join 2nd anniversary of red shirt protest on Saturday (MCOT) http://t.co/zswuffxWRichardBarrow: 3pm Srinakarin Road is looking very much like a river: http://t.co/XMPpZ3Kl - RT @ikongggggg: ถนนศรีนครินทร์ตัดทางรถไฟหัวหมากRichardBarrow: After the heavy rain around Bangkok this afternoon, many roads are looking more like rivers - RT @mongriva: http://t.co/jjCj4OOLRichardBarrow: Video interview (Thai/Italian) with Elisabetta Polenghi (@PolenghiE), sister of Italian photographer http://t.co/MEt2XyBBRichardBarrow: RT @forestmat: Interested to hear what developments have been made in investigating the shooting of Fabio Polenghi => Don't hold your breathRichardBarrow: Sister of Italian photographer shot dead during crackdown two years ago meets with Metropolitan Police http://t.co/TgmFxZQn - MT @ter_tnewsRichardBarrow: WANTED: Have you seen this man? Thai police need help in capturing Police Colonel Pichit Kromprasit http://t.co/NquMXFIQ - TR @RawangpaiLatest Festival Blogs
23rd Lopburi Monkey Festival 2011 One of the most popular festivals in the central region of Thailand is the Monkey Festival held annually in Lopburi. The city is about 150 kms nor.... |
Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani One of the biggest and most beautiful festivals in Thailand is the Candle Procession which marks the start of the Buddhist Lent. In Thai this is c.... |
Hilltribe Ordination at The Marble Temple in Bangkok Wat Benchamabopit, which is more commonly known as The Marble Temple, is probably the most beautiful temple in Bangkok. It is certainly one of the.... |
Candle Procession and the Buddhist Rains Retreat During the full moon of this month we celebrate the religious holiday of Asarnha Bucha Day. It commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon to his fir.... |
Phi Ta Khon Festival 2011 One of the most unique and colourful festivals in Thailand is Phi Ta Khon that takes place every year in Dansai in Loei Province. It is sometimes .... |
Songkran at Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall A good place to enjoy the traditional side of Songkran, and probably learn a bit about its culture and history, is at the Rattanakosin Exhibition .... |
Songkran at Nakaphirom Park: 10-15 April Celebrate the Songkran Festival in the four regions of Thailand at Nakaphirom Park in Bangkok. Different cultural shows each night in this park alo.... |
Photos of Pattaya Music Festival 2011 This weekend, Thailand is hosting one of Asia’s biggest beach music festivals. The Pattaya International Music Festival, 18-20 March 2011, is n.... |
Muay Thai Festival in Ayutthaya Muay Thai is truly an international sport these days as people all around the world compete in this ancient form of boxing. However, the spiritual.... |
Hae Pha Khuen Festival in Nakhon Si Thammarat
|
Paknam Pho Chinese New Year Festival The most important date on the festival calendar for Nakhon Sawan is the annual Paknam Pho Chinese New Year Festival which lasts for 12 days and 1.... |
Light and Sound Show at Grand Palace If you are in Bangkok at the moment then you shouldn’t pass up on the opportunity to go and see a light and sound show at the Grand Palace calle.... |