Thailand Festivals
Thailand is a townland of contrasts; it connects Buddhist serenity that borders with indifference and extraordinary passion to noisy and bright festivals.
One of the most famous festival in Phuket is Vegetarian Festival. It ls know from all over Thailand, but only Phuket celebrates it in such a grand way.
The date of the event is floating; it depends on Lunar circle and lasts nine days. The roots of the holiday are deep inside the ancient Chinese culture. The legend says it took place in the XIX-th century when a deadly disease befell the island. Some of historians considered it was malaria, others supposed it was a fever. In either event many locals passed away. While a group of Chinese actors and opera singers toured across the island. They thought if they followed the strict vegetarian diet and pray to the main Nine Chinese Gods, they would be able to clean their bodies and souls. They had been trying to keep that abstinence for 9 days, it was a miracle but they were treated after it. As for current ceremonies, they are quite extraordinary, and we don’t advice you to take children on the festival because the rituals may make them scared. But you’d better take a look at it at once, cause anyway it is an extremely bright and colorful show.
As we have already mentioned in our annual Phuket events Thai people are mad about having fun and vacations, they rest a lot and they know how to do it. For example, why wouldn’t they celebrate New Year’s Day trice a year? They do! Songran is the third time when they celebrate New Year’s Day. Actually Songran is a thai New Year’s Festival which is fallen on the 13-15th of April. From historical point of view, Songran is a celebration of famers who was waiting for the rainy season to put rice grains into the soil. But today it is a very cheerful fete day which is full of icy water, colorful powder, water guns and water bowls. Don’t miss this real fun in Phuket.
Loy Kratong is another different but not less amazing Thai festival. The date of the celebration is not fixed, but commonly it is in October or November. It’s a magical day when the evening sky and sea are in flame. It seems they are burning. It happens because thousands of people put thousands of lights in water and skyward. That is the night of making people’s sweetest dream and purification.
