Best Traditional Festivals in Thailand

Thailand as a hot tourist destination and the reason is not just its beautiful scenery, fine food and crystal clean sea. The annual traditional festival also attracts a large number of people to visit Thailand to experience a different holiday atmosphere. Thailand is deeply influenced by Buddhism, so many festivals are related to Buddhism. So here we take you to see some of the best traditional festivals in Thailand.

Mahka Bucha - Buddhist Festival

Held on: March 15th in Thai Lunar calendar
Activities: Monks do good works in the morning, listen to the sermon recitation in the afternoon, the monks ring the bell at the appointed time and hold the ceremony in the evening, and the national flag is flown all over the country.

Mahka Bucha is a traditional Buddhist festival in Thailand, held every March 15th of the Thai calendar. If it is a leap year, it will be changed to April 15th of the Thai calendar. According to legend, the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni, first publicized the teachings to 1,250 Arhats who came to the rally automatically in the hall of the Bamboo Forest Garden of the King of Moatung on March 15th. The Thai Buddhists who believe in the Hinayana Buddhism regard the gathering as the day of Buddhism creation and carry a grand commemoration.

The government will hold a ceremony to celebrate Mahka Bucha and the king will participate in person. On the morning of the Mahka Bucha, Thai men, women and children brought flowers, incense sticks and charity items to nearby monasteries to conduct fasting, burning incense and worshiping. Some devotees also accept the Five Precepts or the Eight Precepts to express their devotion to Buddhism.

Songkran - Water Festival or Thailand New Year

Held on: April 13th -15th 
Activities: Monks do good works, bathing to clean your body, people splash water on each other for blessings, worship your elders, free captive animals and song and dance game

The Songkran in Thailand, also known as the water Festival, lasts for three days on April 13 of each year and is an important festival in Thailand. It is said that the Songkran Festival originated from a ritual of Indian Brahmanism. Every year, the believers have a religious day to bathe in the river and wash away the sins of the body. If the elderly or the disabled are unable to reach the river, their family members or friends will pick up the water for them and pour water on them.

Loi Krathong - Light Festival 

Held on: December 12th in Thai Lunar calendar
Activities: launching krathongs, the water light design competition, Miss Water light pageant, the singing competition, classical drama performances.

Loi Krathong, one of the most romantic festivals in the world, is considered to be Valentine's Day in Thailand, and is second largest event after the Songkran Festival in the minds of Thais.  It is a festival celebrated throughout Thailand, with the festivities in Chiang Mai and Ayutthaya being particularly well known. 

According to traditional Thai customs, Thai people will put their own hand-made krathongs(water lights) into the river on the festival day to pay homage to the goddess of the water and make good wishes. At the same time, they hope that all the evils and filth will drift away. It is also a festival in which men and women express their love to each other. 

Yi Peng – Lantern Festival

Held on: December 12th in Thai Lunar calendar
Location: Chiang Mai
Activities: release paper lanterns into the sky

The Lantern Festival refers to the Yeepeng Lanna International organized by an official organization in Chiang Mai. Loi Krathong coincides with Chiang Mai's Yi Peng festival, where thousands of paper lanterns (Khom Loi) are lit and let off into the sky, creating a magical sight. 

Chiang Mai's Lantern Festival is one of the most amazing sights you will ever see. People gather down by the banks of the Peng River and release thousands of paper lanterns into the sky and watch them float away in the gentle evening breeze. You can also see the religious ceremonies, firework displays, parades, and the releasing of paper boats in the river.

Visakha Bucha - Buddha's Birthday

Held on:  June 15th in Thai lunar calendar
Activities: visit temples, listen to sermons, offer food to monks
Visakha Bucha, also known as Vesak Day, takes place on June 15th of the Thai calendar (about May in the Gregorian calendar) and is a very important Buddhist festival. Visakha Bucha Day commemorates the three major events in the life of Buddha Sakyamuni his birth, his enlightenment, and his death. According to legend, the Buddha was born on this day, epiphany and Nirvana. 

In Thailand, Visakha Bucha is a time when the devout people visit local temples to "make merit" by giving donations and engaging in various rituals.