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BANGKOK
RATTANAKOSIN ISLAND GRAND SONGKRAN FESTIVAL
APRIL 10 - 15, 2004 |
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RATCHDAMNERN
AVENUE
SANAM LUANG ROYAL FIELD
RATTANAKOSIN ISLAND
KHAO SAN ROAD
SAMPRAENG DISTRICT (Klong Ku Muang Doem)
SANTICHAI PRAKARN PARK
VISUTKASAT ROAD
MAP
OF RATTANAKOSIN ISLAND
Please click to view
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THE GRAND SONGKRAN FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY AND
GRAND SONGKRAN AND INTERNATIONAL SONGKRAN FESTIVAL PARADE
APRIL 10, 2004 / 16.00 -19.00
From Ratchadamnern Avenue to Sanam Luang Royal Field
featuring a total of 76 colourful parades, each portraying the cultural diversity of each of the provinces of Thailand.
 Procession and Bathing ritual of the Phra Buddha Sihing Buddha image at Sanam Luang
Tales of Songkran: Seven Songkran Queens Parade
Songkran Cultural Parade of the 4 Regions
6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary Parade in Honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit
Thailand Grand Festival 2004 Parade
Songkran Cultural Processions of the 76 Provinces
Songkran Parade from the neighbouring countries
6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary Tribute in honour of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit
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OTHER SONGKRAN HIGHLIGHTS
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DANCING FOUNTAINS AND LIGHT-AND-SOUND SHOW
Rattanakosin Island and along Ratchdamnern Avenue
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Thai and international cultural performances
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Stage performances at Sanam Luang
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TRADITIONAL SONGKRAN FESTIVITIES &
THE PRESERVATION OF THAI CULTURE & HERITAGE
LOCAL COMMUNITY SONGRAN FESTIVITIES
Rattanakosin Island
Sanam Luang
Along Khao San Road
Along Banglumpoo Road
Santichaiprakarn Park
Visutkasat Road
Klong Ku Meuang Doem
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THE BUDDHIST TRADITION OF MERIT-MAKING AT 7 SACRED TEMPLES
APRIL 12 - 14, 2004
Time-honoured Buddhist customs and ancient Buddhist merit-making traditions such as the bathing ritual in which lustral water is sprinkled over Buddha images and the building of sand stupas that are decorated with colourful flags and flowers can be seen at the 7 key Buddhist temples dotted around Rattanakosin Island. They are:
Wat Phra Chetupon or 'Wat Pho'
Wat Suthat Temple
Wat Arun - The Temple of Dawn
Wat Kalayanamit
Wat Rakang
Wat Chanasongkram
Temple of the Emerald Buddha
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PROCESSION OF THE PHRA BUDDHA SIHING BUDDHA IMAGE
Phra Buddha Sihing, a sacred Buddha image greatly revered by the community, is escorted in a religious procession through the streets of the Kingdom's capital crossing from the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River to the western bank, the site of the former capital of Thonburi, offering an opportunity for residents of the city to participate in the ancient bathing ritual performed as a gesture of respect and worship. Once the journey has been completed, the Phra Buddha Sihing Buddha image is installed in a ceremonial pavilion or mandapa at Sanam Luang (Royal Ground) for three days, presenting further opportunities for the residents of Bangkok to pay their respects in accordance with the ancient Songkran New Year Buddhist merit-making tradition and customs.
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BUDDHIST MERIT-MAKING RITUALS AT SANAM LUANG ROYAL GROUND
Offerings of food, flowers, incense, candles and other sacred items are presented to 221 Buddhist monks. Once the offerings have been made, a traditional bathing ritual is performed.
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TRADITIONAL SONGKRAN FESTIVITIES &
THE PRESERVATION OF THAI CULTURE & HERITAGE
At the Ceremonial Pavilion at Sanam Luang Royal Ground
Bathing Ritual
Thanksgiving, one of the cultural values behind Songkran festivities, is demonstrated in the ceremonial aspects of Songkran such as the sprinkling of Buddha statues with lustral water and the act of pouring lustral water over the hands of elders and respected individuals in a gesture of respect.
Other festive décor are reminders of time-honoured Thai traditions and Thai-ness such as 'tung" - the colourful traditional vertical flags, traditional paper lanterns and other floral decoration. |
SONGKRAN IN THE 4 REGIONS OF THAILAND
Please click to view |
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