Songkran Festival Celebrates New Year Amid Earthquake Concerns in Thailand
Thailand’s Songkran festival, marking the New Year, features water-splashing on Buddhist statues. This traditional celebration is affected by concerns over an earthquake in Myanmar. Attendees expressed hopes for peace, as the Thai tourism sector sees a recovery in hotel bookings following initial declines.
In Thailand, the traditional Songkran New Year festival commenced recently, with participants pouring water on Buddhist statues at temples as a celebration of cleansing, reverence, and attracting good fortune. This year’s festivities began on Sunday, coinciding with concerns over the impact of a severe earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.
Many attendees, including local residents and tourists, visited the iconic Wat Arun temple in Bangkok. One participant from Myanmar expressed her desire for peace in her country and stated, “the best I can do right now is to pray for those affected by the quake.”
The earthquake resulted in a collapse of an under-construction high-rise in Bangkok. In the aftermath, Thai tourism officials reported a decline in hotel reservations, although the numbers have begun to recover recently.
Notably, the Songkran festival was recognized by UNESCO in 2023 as part of the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, underscoring its cultural significance and value to Thailand’s heritage.
The Songkran festival in Thailand is marked by the pouring of water on Buddhist statues, which symbolizes purification and fortune. This year’s event is overshadowed by the recent Myanmar earthquake, affecting the tourism sector. Despite a temporary decline in hotel bookings, recovery efforts are evident, and UNESCO’s endorsement highlights the festival’s importance in cultural heritage.
Original Source: www3.nhk.or.jp
