Pattaya City Hall recently announced the official schedule for the upcoming “Wan Lai” event of the Songkran Festival in Pattaya from the 18th to the 20th of April. Whilst an invitation has been extended to both local and foreign residents and tourists, administrators have asked the population, in a safety conscious statement, to refrain from using powerful hoses or PVC pipe canons at this year’s event.
Pattaya’s “Wan Lai” festival has become famous throughout the nation for its colourful vibrant atmosphere where both local Thai’s and visiting tourists come together to splash water at each other whilst enjoying the festival attractions and entertainment put on by city administrators. This year’s festival will include events such as, a Songkran beauty pageant, music performances and a variety of traditional Thai ceremonies and parades.
Events Schedule:
Sunday the 18th of April at Lan Pho Courtyard, Naklua
7:00am – Giving of Alms (rice) to 99 Buddhist monks followed by the bathing of the Buddha and an elderly “water pouring” ceremony.
12:00pm – Buddha image parade starting from Lan Pho courtyard and finishing at Naklua market.
Monday the 19th of April at Chai-Mongkon Temple, South Pattaya
8:30am – Bathing of the Buddha, Water pouring ceremony and Buddhist Monk ceremony.
12:00am – Flower and Buddha parade up Beach Road to the Loma Curve, returning to the Chai-Mongkon temple.
Tuesday the 20th of April at Lan Pho Courtyard, Naklua
12:00pm – Traditional Thai games such as; catapult shooting, Takrow competition, poetry quiz, Muay Talay competition, oil pole climbing and martial arts competitions.
6:30pm – Rice Throwing Ceremony and Parade of Angels followed by the Parade of Ghosts. Later in the evening a Country Music concert will take place including famous Thai acts such as Pee-Saderd and Ern the Star.
Administrators have placed an emphasis on festival safety at this year’s event following the numerous accidents which have become common place over the past few years. As a result, Pattaya Beach road will be closed to vehicles from 8:00am until 8:00pm on the 20th. In addition, festival goers travelling by car are asked to use the allocated car parking areas only, those being: Bali Hai Pier, Muang Pattaya School 8 and the Chai-Mongkon Temple.
Most importantly, festival goers have been asked to refrain from using any high power water equipment or home-made PVC water canons in the water splashing activities. Alcohol will also be restricted in and around the festival areas at this year’s event.
