April 11, 2024
BANGKOK – The festivities promise a wide array of activities, ranging from “Cultural Songkran”, where genteel manners are observed and traditional customs followed, to “Fun-filled Songkran”, where water splashing will be intense and punctuated with lively entertainment and performances.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt is urging Bangkokians to stay updated with announcements of road closures during the festivities. He said people should plan their activities well in advance. He also advised people to keep their cars at home and opt for public transportation due to limited parking. To ensure orderliness and prevent congestion, no stalls will be permitted in the event areas and checkpoints will be set up to regulate entry.
“Safety measures have been intensified in places like Khao San Road, with the installation of CCTV and AI cameras, speakers for emergency notification and the establishment of a command centre to monitor the area,” he said.
Community engagement near the event sites will be a focal point, with collaborative efforts from municipal officials and law-enforcement agencies to uphold strict security measures.
With tourism promotion efforts ramped up and the Thai–Chinese free visa policy, a surge in tourism numbers is expected this year.
Here are the details of some venues:
‘Cultural Songkran’
• Songkran at City People’s Square: Hosted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority at Lan Khon Muang Town Square from April 12 to 14, 10 am-10 pm, this event will include traditional ceremonies, cultural performances and a temple fair.
• Maha Songkran World Water Festival: Held at Sanam Luang by the Tourism Authority of Thailand from April 11 to 15, this festival will include floats from different regions, cultural and contemporary performances and the sale of products from different parts of the country.
• Songkran Festival 2024: Held by the Culture Ministry’s Department of Cultural Promotion, this fest will take place from April 12 to 15 at Wat Suthat Thepwararam. The event includes sacred water pouring ceremonies, sand pagoda building, cultural performances, art exhibitions, and festivities representing the four regions of Thailand.
• Water Way, Thai Way: Organised by Thai Beverage PCL, this festival will be held from April 13 to 15 at five temples and five river bends of historical significance.
• Songkran Joyful Festival: Local Food, Financial Fun: This event, held by the Bank of Thailand on April 20, will include a simulated Songkran ceremony, a workshop on arranging flower offerings to the Buddha, financial exhibitions and setting up of local community shops around the Bank of Thailand area.
• Siam Center Splashtastic Fun Fest: Held from April 1 to 30, this event invites everybody to Siam Center to play with the Water Interactive Screen.
• Siam Paragon Ultrasonic Water Festival 2024: Held from April 9 to 16, this event features well-known British artist Philip Colbert along with other artists and music streamed through the JOOX application.
• Thailand Songkran Festival 2024: Held from April 2 to 21 at all Central department stores in the city. Highlights include the Thai Entertainment Festival, showcasing rarely seen Unesco-listed Thai cultural heritage, Joyous Entertainment Festival, activities to preserve Thai traditions, as well as music and water-splashing activities.
• Traditional Songkran Wisutthikasattree Festival: Organised by the Thai Sports and Recreation Association for the Elderly, the event will run from April 12 to 15 at Santhichai Prakan Park. The event will feature cultural preservation activities and traditional ceremonies.
Fun-filled Songkran
• Khaosan Songkran Fest 2024: Organised by the Khaosan Business Association from April 12 to 15, the event focuses on safety.
• Songkran Festival on Silom Road: Held by Silom business owners in collaboration with the Bang Rak District Office and Culture Ministry, the event will be held from April 13 to 14 from 3 pm to 8 pm. The event includes a procession to pour water over Buddha statues, a cultural procession, an LGBT beauty pageant, contemporary music performances by renowned artists as well as a blessing ceremony for 120 elderly.
• Songkran Delight: A Friendship Splashing Festival: Held at Samyan Mitrtown from April 13 to 15, the event features a 120-metre-long water play area, concerts by well-known artists and cultural activities.
• Songkran Siam: Organised by Siam Square and the Chulalongkorn University Property Management Office along with BEX, this event will be held from April 13 to 15 from 11 am to 10 pm. The event features giant slides, water tunnels, foam parties, and over 30 food vendors, along with music performances by famous artists. Lewd behaviour, powder, nudity and alcohol are strictly prohibited.
• IconSiam Chao Phraya Songkran 2024: Held from April 10 to 21, the celebration includes a procession of Songkran goddesses, featuring famous actors and actresses, the simulation of sacred Buddha statues water pouring, transforming the River Park area into a Water Splash Landmark, mini-concerts by leading artists and a plethora of contemporary cultural performances to promote Thai identity joyously welcoming the Thai New Year.
Visit https://happining.city/songkran2024 to find details of all 118 festival venues. The app will also keep users updated on traffic conditions, incident alerts and feedback on events.