The heat in Thailand intensifies
once the month of April comes. People of old were wise enough to
initiate the Songkran festival to cool themselves off from the heat
and celebrate it as the Thai New Year. In the central region, the
festival is usually held on the 13th, l4th and 15th of April while
in the East there is a difference as the water throwing activities
commence on the l6th or 17th, 18th or 19th known as "Wan Lai"
(Flowing Day).
Pattaya City holds its Wan Lai
festival annually on April 19th with activities such as water
pouring for the elders, processions and the fun of dowsing and
another with water, a time for Thais and foreigners alike.
Pattaya Festival
usually held at the middle of April
to promote tourism and Pattaya's reputation. Floral floats are
paraded along the streets. The Miss Pattaya Beauty contest is held
as well as traditional aquatic sports competitions and construction
of sand castles. A spectacular fireworks display takes place on the
beach and fire crackers are also set off. Simultaneously, there are
arts and cultural performances, exhibitions and souvenirs for sale.
Chonburi Buffalo Races
is held in Chon Buri during
October every year. The water buffalo is one of the
mainstays in the life of a Thai farmer, but in this annual
event it is put to more amusing uses than ploughing the
local fields, such as buffalo races and contests pitting
buffalo and man. Beauty contests add to the fun a festival
that attracts crowds from nearby seaside resorts.
