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Bangkok is popular for hosting many events and festivals. From colourful temple fairs, delectable food festivals, wonderful stage productions, fabulous sales, Bangkok has a wide range of events happening throughout the year.
1. Of the many festivals in Bangkok, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year in January see the city completely decked up and colourful. Christmas in Bangkok can also be called the festival of lights as everything in the city including buildings, trees, bridges and pavements are decorated with colourful twinkling lights turning Bangkok into a fairy land. Hotels in Bangkok enjoy maximum occupancy during Christmas and this season spells big business for the traders in Bangkok.
2. Chinese New Year's Eve and New Year held during January or February as per the Chinese lunar calendar are important events in Bangkok. The festivities are its best in Chinatown where all the streets come to life with fireworks, worshippers and dragon dancers. Natives believe that on the night of the New Year's Eve, a mythical beast called Nien would descend to the town and cause destruction. To ward off this beast, people dress up in red, decorate their homes in red, place food on their doorsteps and light fireworks. Chinese families also come together to pray to God and to their ancestors and organise a grand feast. Chinatown literally looks painted in red, and with the beautiful dragon parades and acrobatic performances, New Year's Eve is an extravagant celebration in Bangkok. Due to the rush, it is best if tourists book Bangkok hotels well in advance to enjoy their stay in the city.
3. On the full moon day in March or in the third lunar month, Buddhists observe the Macha Bucha. This day marks an event in history when 1250 followers of Lord Buddha gathered to hear his sermon. Following traditions, Macha Bucha sees worshippers encircle the Emerald Buddha temple thrice. The King presides over the religious rituals at the Emerald Buddha temple in Bangkok and leads the procession around the temple.
4. April brings to Bangkok the festival of Songkran or the Thai New Year. An occasion for family reunions and temple visits, Songkran begins with the Rod Nam Dum Hua ritual which is officially called the National Elderly Day. This ritual involves young people pouring fragrant water into the elders' palms as a sign of humility and to ask for their blessings. Another important ritual during this festival is bathing the Buddha, where worshippers pour fragrant water over Buddha statues at the temples and at homes. People in Bangkok also splash water at each other to symbolically wash off all misfortunes.
5. Another important festival in Bangkok is Loy Krathong. Celebrated on the full moon night in the twelfth lunar month which is usually November, local people gather at the banks of the river and release the lit 'Krathongs' into the river. It is truly magical to watch the river glitter with thousands of lit 'Krathongs' that float on it. This festival is observed to thank the Water Goddess for a year's worth of abundant supply. Many hotels in Bangkok also host this event at their swimming pools. Festivities and events seem like a part of life in Bangkok and tourists get to experience some or the other event no matter when they visit here. Mohit Kumar Ghosh
