A toast to tradition
Terminal 21 mall on Bangkok’s Soi Asoke will celebrate Thai New Year, known locally as the Songkran festival, by taking visitors back to the good old days with a retro style decor and shows of Thai traditional dance, khon and puppet performances.
From April 11 to 19, visitors will have an opportunity to sprinkle water on a Buddha image and shop at old-style markets. Among the traditional performances are the masked dance khon from Kornitsilp Troupe under the supervision of Thanapat Chaorungrong – a respected artist from the Fine Arts Department, and a Human Puppet performance from the Cultural Centre of Huachiew University.
Vatchara Prayoonkham, who heads the Kham Nai Troupe, will bring his puppet theatre from Klong Bang Luang to participate in the festival. This puppet performance represents a traditional art that has been in existence for more than 100 years and comprises three highly experienced puppet manipulators who must work in a collective manner to ensure that the puppets move in concert as though they were human beings.
There will be traditional Thai dance performances from four regions of the country too under the leadership of Vatcharapong Soongpankhao from Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakorn. Representing the North is “Phorn Pang Prateep Dance” dedicated to the worship of the Buddha. Based on drum rhythms, the dancers hold lanterns in each hand.
From the central region is the “Vichinee Dance”, which uses fans as the main instrument, while the Northeast region presents “Krathop Mai Dance”, beating rice pestles in a rhythmic manner. Representing the South is “Norah Dance” that combines beautiful singing and dancing.
For details, call (02) 108 0888 or www.Terminal21.co.th.
