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)
