Chonburi will mark its 80th organized Songkran
celebration April 11-19, celebrating the Thai New Year along with the
ceremonies to honor the province’s most-important Buddha statue.
Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai outlined this year’s
schedule March 13, saying the festival celebrates the traditional
activities of the Thai New Year and the “Phra Puttha Sihing” worshipping
ceremony. It also will raise funds for the Chonburi Red Cross.
In honoring the golden Buddha in front of Chonburi
City Hall, devotees will bathe the statue in water and pray. For
Songkran, festivities will include art exhibitions, a Songkran parade,
Miss Songkran pageant, sports competitions, sales of locally made
products, Chinese movies, and concerts every night.
The finale will be a merit-making ceremony at the
Matcha Kan Kusol shop in Chonburi and the scooping of Matcha for prizes
every night including motorcycles, bicycles, refrigerators, color
television, washing machines, electric rice cooker, table and ground
fans.
Concerts will feature artists including Bank, Clash,
Tai Orathai, Valentine, Labanoon, Pu, Pongsithi Gambhir, Buapan &
Srijan, Carabao and Ponglan Sa-on. (CPRD)
