Showing posts with label Travel Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel Events. Show all posts

Friday, April 5, 2013

Celebrating Songkran Festival

Songkran Festival

On April 13-15, 2013, Thailand will be once again embraced with a festive atmosphere as the world-renowned Songkran Festival gets celebrated. It is an important event that locals and foreigners alike cannot get enough of it. This explains why Singapore to Thailand flights are selling like hotcakes nowadays. Songkran is basically the most fun and exciting festival in Thailand and everybody is invited to partake in this momentous celebration.

During this festival, the whole nation turns literally ‘watery’ and ‘wet’. Buddha images are bathed and young people visit the elders to perform the rod nahm dum hua ceremony wherein the young ones pour scented water on the hands of the elders as homage. 

In courtyards and monasteries, people also build sand replicas of stupas as part of the festival. They also set birds and fishes free.


But the fun begins when the locals and foreigners come out to the streets to splash water on each other. It’s a free-for-all water-throwing and it is customary to get wet. Armed with water guns, water hoses, and pails, people bond with each other in joy and exhilaration.


Songkran Celebration
Photo by Lucas Mellec


Songkran Festival is basically observed in all parts of Thailand. But the best place to celebrate it is in the northern province of Chiang Mai where events are held close to mayhem. Nonetheless, peace is observed and everything is just done for fun. 

Water fun


It is best to book Thailand tours which coincide with Songkran Festival early to avoid hassles. There would be no hesitations for sure. It will only be fun.


Get to know more about how Thailand Celebrates Songkran Festival by checking out these resources:

Thursday, February 23, 2012

EVENTS: Mardi Gras New Orleans 2012


Mardi Gras celebration
Photo by Ugur Arpaci


Mardi Gras is one big holiday in New Orleans, it means music, parades, picnics, floats, and excitement! Everyone is wearing purple, green, and gold, some even adorned themselves with the long beads they caught from the beautiful floats. People sit on the ground throwing balls, playing music, and having a picnic while they watch the crowds walk by between parades.

During Mardi Gras, all of the businesses and roads are practically shut down -- people are walking everywhere and meeting new friends. People are dressed in crazy costumes, kids are everywhere, and the air is oozing with fun and excitement!


The highlights of the festivities are the Mardi Gras Parade Krewes where one can get treasure items being thrown from different floats like anodized aluminum that depict the parade theme on one side and the Krewe's emblem on the other called doubloons, cups, long pearl beads, and stuffed animals.

Each year there are dozens of parades in New Orleans and the surrounding area, and this year is no different. Parades begin Sunday, February 5, 2012, and continue until Mardi Gras Day, February 21, 2012. 

Each Mardi Gras Parade Krewe has a unique history and theme. Some have been around for decades, while others have been in existence for just a few years. Krewe of ZULU is well known for its interesting history and "golden nugget" (coconut) parade throws. Mardi Gras Indians are about beautiful beaded and feathered costumes they hand design throughout the entire year. Krewe of Bacchus features national celebrity monarchs each year and draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. Krewe of Rex is the origin of many traditions of Mardi Gras, including its colors of purple, green, and gold, as well as the collectible doubloon coins Krewe of Endymion quickly emerged as one of Carnival's 'Super-Krewes' in 1974 with the inclusion of more floats and celebrity guests.


Usually, days have several parades booked back to back, so whether you are on St. Charles Avenue with the family, catching beads from a Central Business District balcony, or enjoying the floats on Canal before a night in the French Quarter, plan for a day of Mardi Gras magic!