Songkran celebrations on the river
Celebrate Thai New Year at the newly opened Lhong 1919, which bills itself as the pier of Thai-Chinese cultural arts on the Chao Phraya river, as Kasikorn Bank and Thai Beverage put together the inaugural Songkran@Lhong 1919 from tomorrow April 11) through Sunday (April 15) from 10am to 10pm.
A special guest is new generation artist, Tan Kositpipat, son of National Artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who has designed the sand pagodas,
“Chino Port is honoured to participate in the Water Festival 2018 and have prepared a range of traditional activities including Jasmine Tunnel with holy water from the Dhevaphisek ceremony of Somdej Phra Wannarat, a bathing rite activity with Khlongsan’s long worshipped Buddha Som Prathana from Phichayayatikaram Woravihara Temple or Wat Phichaiyat, and a tasting of a rare for khao chae,” says Rujiraporn Wanglee, an executive with Lhong 1919,
“The festival also celebrates the long-standing Thai-Chinese bonds.”
“This is a very challenging request but also an honour as the sand pagoda is directly related to Buddhism through its association with the belief in karma. Through the sand pagodas, we give the temple back the sand and earth that stuck to our shoes as we walked out while also making holy offering to the Buddha. This concept inspired the design of the four-metre tall, three-metre wide sand pagoda. It’s based on the idea of several grains of sand holding together similar to Thai people from all cultures bonding harmoniously on the same land. The pagoda tops also differ from era to era for example, the Sukhothai, Ayutthaya and Thonburi kingdoms, which convey their beautiful stories,” says artist Tan.
Children from Khlong San district are welcome to paint on the framed canvas, which will be displayed throughout the Songkran Festival.
Live band Symphony Swing provides the music after sundown.
