Thai festivals in April and May 2016
If a ranking of national and regional festivals is made, I think Thailand is in the leading group. Throughout the year there are all kinds of festivals to visit in the country. It can be an initiation ceremony, an elephant procession, a water fight, but the goal is often to please Buddha, which is often accompanied by a lot of festivities.
There are also festivals here and there in April and May, we will mention a few that may also be of interest to holidaymakers.
Poi Sang Long Festival, Mae Hong Son
In several districts, the Poi Sang Long Festival can be experienced. This festival marks the transition from boy to adult man. Tai Yai teenagers leave the parental home to enter the monastery for a few months. The Tai Yai believe that young boys who become novices and study Buddhist teachings bring great merit to their parents.
The Poi Sang Long ceremony is one of the most colorful and vibrant events in Thailand, with the young people dressed in ornate costumes, their faces made up and wearing a turban with flowers.
The Poi Song Long Festival will take place April 1-3 and 5-7 in Mae Sariang District, April 2-6 in Pai, and April 2-4 in Mae Hong Son, see also: www.festivalsofthailand.com/home/thailand-festivals/poi-sang-long-ceremony :
Songkran Festival throughout Thailand
Of course, the Songkran Festival, for some the celebration of unlimited water spraying others, for others a dramatic week of what some call "water terror"
Google 'Songkran' and you will find numerous websites describing both the traditional celebration (often still used in rural areas) and the water wasting orgies in the big cities. With regard to the latter, the Thai government has appealed to everyone to exercise restraint in wasting precious water due to the prevailing drought. It must be feared, however, that the revelers, who often come to Thailand especially for the Songkran Festival, will take little notice. Whatever is said or thought about this Festival, when you experience it for the first time you will notice that it is a unique event that is unparalleled in the world.
The Songkran Festival, which marks Thailand's traditional New Year, officially begins on April 12, but the duration and celebration vary widely across Thailand. Check the Internet for the dates in your place of residence or residence.
Bun Bang Fa Rocket Festival, Yasothon
Every May, about a month before rice planting begins, people on the empty plains of Isan try to prove that building rockets doesn't require a degree in quantum physics. Under the direction of monks, local rocket builders fill long plastic tubes of various sizes with gunpowder. The rockets are then launched into the clear blue sky as a tribute to the sky and to remind the Rain God that the time has come to deliver rain to aid the growing season.
It is a true experience to get on May 14-15 to experience this spectacle. It attracts tens of thousands of visitors (Thai and foreigners) every year. Also see: www.carnifest.com/events/thailand/yasothon/316/bun-bang-fai-rocket-festival-2016.aspx
Maeng Na Ngam Festival, Loei
In May, all farmers in Loei province pay tribute to the beast that plows their fields – the Buffalo. Once upon a time, the buffaloes were tired of their work and often died of exhaustion. However, their ghosts lingered in the area and frightened the residents.
To appease those spirits, tribute is paid each year before the start of the rice season through a festival known locally as Maeng Na Ngam. A ceremony in which the residents roam the streets wearing Buffalo masks, some fun and others more terrifying.
In recent years, the local tourist authorities have turned this almost unknown ritual into a full-fledged festival with music, dance and colorful costumes.
Best time to travel: mid-May. For more information, call Tourism Authority of Thailand (Loei Office) on (042) 812 812.
Finally,:
As mentioned in the introduction, there are numerous festivals every year in all parts of Thailand. A nice website with a lot of information about festivals is: www.thaifestivalblogs.com
Source: The Nation