UNESCO certifies Songkran as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage

[webfact]

 

UNESCO has issued an official certificate inscribing Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year festival, as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage, following the intergovernmental convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in Botswana.

 

Kowit Pakamart, director-general of the Cultural Promotion Department, said that the government plans to celebrate Songkran in grand style, to promote this traditional festival as an element of Thailand’s soft power and tourist attraction from April 1st-21st.

 

Celebrations will be held in all provinces during this period, he added.

 

Regarding the forthcoming Chinese New Year festival, from February 4th-14th, it is anticipated that about 3.5 million air travellers, many of them from China, will use the six main airports in Thailand, including more than 3,000 special flights from China.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-02-05

 

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[flyingtlger]

10 minutes ago, webfact said:

UNESCO has issued an official certificate inscribing Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year festival, as part of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage

Well it's about time.....

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Kowit Pakamart, director-general of the Cultural Promotion Department, said that the government plans to celebrate Songkran in grand style, to promote this traditional festival as an element of Thailand’s soft power and tourist attraction from April 1st-21st.

Milk it for all their worth... 

[daveAustin]

Why intangible? It can be a wonderful thing, but intangible? The concept of Songkran is a noble one, but the majority of visitors don’t know about that and don’t come for that. Most Thais don’t celebrate its meaning either. It is a de-stressor and mostly about cooling down and having a good time.

[StayinThailand2much]

1 hour ago, daveAustin said:

Why intangible? It can be a wonderful thing, but intangible? The concept of Songkran is a noble one, but the majority of visitors don’t know about that and don’t come for that. Most Thais don’t celebrate its meaning either. It is a de-stressor and mostly about cooling down and having a good time.

 

How about the other water festivals in SE Asia? I wonder, why the one in Thailand is special compared to the ones in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Yunnan, and NE India. Maybe its about the water guns.

 

Perhaps UNESCO will next certify "rice as humanity's food staple grown in Thailand"... LOL

Edited February 5 by StayinThailand2much

[mfd101]

It felt extremely tangible the day many years ago I was walking up Sukhumvit soi 13 to the Trendy when a stupid woman from one of the shops came up behind me, grabbed my belt and poured a bucket full of water down my pants.

[khunpeer]

53 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

It felt extremely tangible the day many years ago I was walking up Sukhumvit soi 13 to the Trendy when a stupid woman from one of the shops came up behind me, grabbed my belt and poured a bucket full of water down my pants.

I had the same with my laptop-bag, not funny at all!

since then I just stay at the beach and mind my own bizz...

[alex8912]

Oh 21 days of Songkran should go down very well in popularity on this forum!!  

[zhounan]

Can I put it this way? Traditional Songkran is fascinating, modern Songkran is hateful.