Thai Beverage is holding Water Festival 2018: The Joy Of New Year Celebration, a multicultural affair to preserve Thai cultural heritage, in four regions.
In Bangkok, the fourth edition of the festival will run at eight venues located along the curve of the Chao Phraya River from tomorrow until Sunday. The venues are Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm, Wat Arun Rajwararam, Wat Prayurawongsawas Warawihan, Wat Kalayanamitr, Maharaj Pier, Yod Pi Man River Walk, Asiatique the Riverfront and Lhong 1919.
This is a good chance to join the Buddha bathing ritual, make merit and pay respect to sacred Buddha statues at the four respective temples and enjoy temple fair-style games in the evening.
Each venue will be packed with Songkran-themed activities, including a workshop on how to make use of the chequered loincloth, or pha khao ma, on various occasions. Blue flag stalls and community stalls will offer local crafts and products. Tunnels decorated in different styles have been erected in front of each venue to facilitate visitors from the pier.
Visitors are invited to join the sand pagoda building activities and see cultural performances at Wat Phra Chetuphon; enjoy traditional Thai games and a lion dance and observe folk plays at Wat Kalayanamitr; attend a garland-making workshop at Maharaj Pier; and witness the jasmine flower tunnel at Lhong 1919.
Besides offering a tunnel of holy water blessed by four royal temples, Asiatique the Riverfront will present entertainment, including a traditional Thai dance, sam cha dance, and sea boxing. Three famous acts also will take turns giving a mini-concert -- 60 Miles tomorrow, Image on Saturday and Polycat on Sunday.
All visitors are encouraged to dress in Thai fabric or loincloth outfits to promote Thai identity. Free shuttle-boat service will be available daily from 9am-10pm on all three days.
The festival will take place at Lanna Traditional House Museum in Chiang Mai from tomorrow until Sunday, on Dibuk Road in Phuket on Saturday and Sunday, and at Ban Chiang Archaeological Site, Udon Thani, tomorrow and Saturday.
