Every Corner of the Kingdom

There are hundreds of ways to get wet and welcome the new year this weekend, all over Thailand. Here’s a survey of some of them.

CENTRAL REGION

SAMUT SONGKHRAM’s Songkran celebration takes place mainly in King Rama II Memorial Park nearby the Amphawa Floating Market Saturday through Monday.
There’ll be pouring water over elders’ hands and Buddha statues, plus the Siamese classical orchestra Wong Pi Part Mai Kang and a brass band, the traditional Lakhorn Chatree dance, a klong yao (drum) parade and a puppet show.
Get more details from the Tourism Authority at (034) 752 847-8 or the park at (034) 751 666.

LOPBURI festivities centre on Wat Phra Non Chakrasi Worawihan all three days and a cultural-heritage ceremony called Parupanang that involves wrapping the reclining Buddha statue of Phra Non Chakrasi in yellow robes. Statues of Phra Kaew and Phra Karn will be bathed and you can look for blossoms on the Sala tree beneath which the Buddha was born.
Find out more at (036) 813 484 or (036) 422 768-9.

AYUTTHAYA will focus its celebrations on Wat Thong Bo through the long weekend, with chances to make merit and seek monks’ guidance at Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit. You can pour lustral water over statues of the Buddha and King Naresuan and watch a grandma beauty contest, a Thong Ta Kab parade and a Mon fashion show.
For more, call (035) 246 076-7 or (035) 328 406.

NORTH

TAK’s festivities aside the Moei River in Mae Sod will include a Thai-Myanmarese Miss Songkran beauty pageant, muay kaad chuek boxing with fists and forearms bound in hemp rope, cross-cultural music and dance and the sale of Otop products.
Learn more at (055) 512 442 or (055) 514 341-3.

MAE HONG SON residents gather around the municipal offices and at Nong Jongkam and Wat Jongkam Jongklang to see a parade of fantasy floats, the choosing of Miss Songkran and traditional sports, plus booths selling classic desserts from six different communities and Otop products.
Find out more at (053) 612 016.
CHIANG RAI has Songkran activities at its municipal offices through the weekend. The highlight is parading a Phra Buddha Sihing statue to Wat Phra Singh, where it will be worshipped and bathed. There’s also a Miss Songkran parade, a competition to build the best sand stupa, traditional music and dance and Otop sales.
Call the office at (053) 711 333, extension 304-5, or the Tourism Authority at (053) 717 433.

NORTHEAST

NAKHON RATCHASIMA will greet the new year at the Monument of Thao Suranari over three days with a parade of decorated floats, pouring water over elders’ hands, a couples-in-love contest, and the bathing of Buddha images from nine temples around the province.
Get more information from the municipality at (044) 245 933 or the Tourism Authority at (044) 213 030.
UBON RATCHATHANI has three full days planned around Thung Sri Muang. The Phra Kaew Busarakam statue will be paraded amid festive cars from the municipal offices to Wat Khoom and around the area. There’ll also be traditional and modern music and a Thai-Indochinese food festival.
Learn more at (045) 243 770 or (045) 250 714.

SOUTH

SATUN plans a long weekend with the bathing of Buddha images and pouring water over elders’ hands, as well as releasing aquatic animals into the river to make merit.
Call the municipality at (074) 722 997 or the Tourism Authority at (075) 215 867.

PHUKET’s “Songkran on the Beach 2013” at Patong is already underway and continues to April 15. A Phra Buddha Sihing statue is carried around while decorated floats parade and Miss Songkran and the Songkran Kids are chosen.
Get the details from the municipal office at (076) 342 080.

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT citizens meet in Sri Thammasokarat Public Park and will watch light-and-sound shows at Ho Phra Isuan all weekend through April 15.
Images of Phra Buddha Sihing and Phra Chao Sri Thammasokarat will be worshipped, 84 monks will be asked for blessings, and water will be poured on elders’ hands. You can also get a taste of a 1,500-kilogram khanom jeen. Find out how from the Tourism Authority at (075) 346 515-6.