One of the best places to experience Songkran in Thailand is in Chiang Mai, featuring Lanna Thai style celebrations throughout this northern capital of Thailand. Songkran in Chiang Mai is celebrated on a grand scale with a flavor uniquely and entirely its own, attracting visitors from far and wide.

For 2008 the Songkran Thai New Year festivities in Chiang Mai are scheduled for April 13-15. However you’ll find merry making and sanook throughout the city for most of the month of April. Festivities will be held at temples, in the vicinity of the city’s gates and around the city moat.

One of the highlights of the festival is the ‘Songkran Beauty Queen Procession’ that takes place on Songkran Day itself – April 13. Here you will see Thai girls in traditional Lanna costume vying for the title of Miss Songkran. Meanwhile, many other events leading up to the main attraction are spread over several days and it is here that the visitor gets to see various aspects of Chiang Mai, first hand, — its culture, cuisine, arts and crafts, as well as the friendly people.

Devout Buddhists visit the temple for merit-making and to listen to sermons. Lustral water is sprinkled on sacred Buddha images, such as the Phra Buddha Sihing image, and also poured over the hands of monks in a gesture of reverence. Donations are also made to the temple. Enjoy traditional Thai cultural performances held in the temple ground.

Highlights of the Chiang Mai Songkran festival will include:

• Lanna Thai cultural performances and folk games
• Sand-stupa building contest
• Songkran water-splashing
• Phra Buddha Sihing procession
• Buddha images bathing ritual
• Merit-making activities and presentation of offerings to Buddhist monks
• The release of fish and birds in observance of ancient Buddhist merit-making customs
• ‘Rod nam dum hua’ bathing rituals as a gesture of respect to elderly relatives and other respected individuals

For more information contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand Northern Office : Region 1 (Chiang Mai)
Tel: +66 (0) 5324 8604, (0) 5324 8607

If you need a hotel in Chiang Mai check out the low rates at Agoda.com

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• Choosing Thailand Hotels for Songkran