Bangkok’s Songkran festival kicks off with Phra Buddha Sihing procession
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) on Thursday kicked off the Songkran festival with a beautiful procession carrying the famous Phra Buddha Sihing image from the National Museum to a temporary shrine in Lumphini Park.
There people can pay respects and pour water on the revered statue during the Thai traditional New Year celebration period on April 12-15.
The procession through the streets of old Bangkok was launched in the morning by BMA governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang.
The procession also stopped at six designated locations so that people could pay homage in the hope of earning good fortune. The six locations were Santi Chaiprakan Park, Wat Chana Songkhram, Pak Khlong Talad, Wongwian Yai, Sathorn Square, and MBK mall. The statute then continued to Lumphini Park where it will remain for four days.
BMA will also host an alms offering ceremony at 7am on Friday involving 166 Buddhist monks before hosting various Songkran-related activities – under the theme emphasising Thai culture –at Lumphini Park, including a Songkran beauty queen contest.