Foreign Property News | Posted by Si Thu Aung
Songkran has made a splash on the world’s stage as UNESCO inscribed the traditional Thai New Year festival on its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List.
"Songkran promotes community cooperation, unity and forgiveness. It is viewed as a time to symbolically wash away misfortunes, pray for prosperity for the coming year, reunite with family members, and honor ancestors and older adults," UNESCO wrote on its website.
This year, Songkran in Bangkok, Thailand promises an unprecedented celebration as it extends from 1 to 21 April 2024, transforming into a 3-week-long global water festival.
Thailand's Songkran festival, typically spanning three days from April 13th to 16th, will undergo a significant expansion in 2024.
The Thai government committee aims to extend the celebrations from 1 April to 21 April 2024, departing from the traditional three-day format.
This ambitious move seeks to solidify Thailand's position among the world's top 10 festival destinations.
Embracing tradition and innovation, Thailand aims to amplify its "soft power" by attracting international tourists to partake in this vibrant, fun-filled affair.
Originating from the Sanskrit word saṃkrānti, meaning 'to step into'.
The government believes that Thailand stands to earn up to 52.5 billion baht in tourism revenue through the 21-day long “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024” promotion.
Ref: Thailand's Songkran festival wins UNESCO recognition (washingtondc.thaiembassy)
