This was announced on 6 December 2023 during the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee. The Department of Cultural Development of the Ministry of Culture included the nomination “Songkran in Thailand, the traditional Thai New Year festival” in the UNESCO list.
“In Thailand, Songkran marks the annual passage of the Sun into the constellation Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, which marks the traditional start of the new year,” UNESCO said.
“This happens in mid-April after the rice harvest. It is a time when people reunite with their families and pay respect to the elderly, ancestors, and sacred images of Buddha. Pouring water is an important action during Songkran, symbolizing purification, reverence, and good fortune.”
Songkran in Thailand is officially celebrated as a three-day national holiday from April 13 to 15, although celebrations can last longer — up to a week in some places. For tourists, the Songkran festival offers the opportunity to enjoy a huge celebration when water parties are held on the streets of cities and villages in Thailand.
Songkran in Thailand declared by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage
News in Asia
Songkran in Thailand, the traditional Thai New Year festival was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).