April is one of the months of the year that both foreign and domestic tourists have been waiting for, especially for Thais because it’s a month where family and relatives gather to celebrate the Thai New Year, or Songkran.
Thai Songkran Festival has been a traditional following since the ancient times. Before the dates approach, most people who are working in central Thailand will begin to travel home to their native provinces to celebrate this special period of time with loved ones and family. It’s the time of the year when people host big parties, splash about in the heat, and just have lots of fun.
Nongrak shows some of her water guns for youngsters. She has been taking orders from football lovers for particular football teams.
The most popular and best selling products are water guns and colorful flowered shirts, which are signatures of Songkran.
At the Old Naklua Market, water guns and colorful flower shirts are offered. Factories have invented a variety of water guns priced in a reasonable range.
A seller named Nongrak said that her shop is one of the biggest in the market that offers a variety of equipment for Songkran. This year is somewhat a bit slow as other smaller shops are not ordering as much products as they did in the previous years.
She thought that maybe it’s a little too early for people to purchase the products like the water guns, but they are normally the best-selling products at this time of the year.
Samples of the colorful flower shirts that are available throughout most local markets in Pattaya.
Local market vendors are a bit fed up with government restrictions as many products are banned and classed as objects that may harm others. However, she was convinced that she would be seeing an increase of customers in the week leading up to the Pattaya Songkran festival. Nongrak’s shop offers a wide variety of Songkran products and the prices are the same as last year.
Pranom, a shop vendor who offers flowered shirts, said that she is doing incredibly well at present. There are many other smaller shops, restaurants and hotels that are ordering more shirts.
The dates are getting nearer and most people would come and purchase flowered shirts for themselves, friends, and family at home.
This year, she is offering more than the previous years. Her shop has a variety of shirts with different colors, flower shapes and patterns. The prices have not gone up, ranging from 199-250 baht.
The new fashion amongst Thais has shifted to wearing these colorful flower shirts during Songkran and foreigners are seen wearing them as well.
