Posts Tagged ‘Festival’
Muay Thai in the spotlight
February 28, 2012 by TTRweekly
AYUTTHAYA, February 24, 2012 – More than 300 Muay Thai boxers will be in Thailand, 17 to 23 Marc,h for the 8th Thai boxing tournament and festival, to showcase what is audibly one of world’s most specular contact sports.
The week-long event will see competitors and Thai boxing enthusiasts from 30 countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, South Korea, France, Ukraine, and South Africa.
Officially known as the World Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony and Miracle Muay Thai Festival, the event is being organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand at the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province in Thailand.
Muay Thai is Thailand’s top national sport with historical links to the heritage and culture of the country dating back centuries. Its first appeared as a village sport known as Muay Boran or “ancient boxing”, and was a derivitive of unarmed combat moves used by Siamese soldiers that were taught alongside skills in using a fighing scabarb known in Thai language as the Krabee Krabong.
Ayutthaya, is also home of a legendary hero, Nai Khanom Tom, who according to popular narratives, gained his freedom from Burmese rulers by emerging victorious over Burmese prize fighters with his combination of his fighting skills as well as his faith in a religious ritual that preceded all bouts.
In an official press release for the event, TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said, “…the festival aims to promote Thai martial arts as a legacy that reflects the wisdom of the ancestors and hails its role in safeguarding the independence of the country from generation to generation.”
This year, festival highlights include a Muay Thai exhibition, performances and a full-fledged tournament as well as educational sessions for visitors who have a keen interest in sports and Thai heritage. There will be associated activities; such as, demonstrations of Thai handicraft production and Thai cooking.
Wai Khru Muay Thai Ceremony will be held 17 March at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Stadium and the Miracle Muay Thai Festival will be held at the Ayutthaya Tourism Centre from 17 to 28 March 2012. Other activities, such as World Championship for amateurs, Amateur Muay Thai World Championships, Pro-Am Muay Thai World Championships and Muay Thai training camps will be held 16 to 23 March at the Suphachalasai Stadium in Bangkok.
More information, contact, activities promotion division, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tel: 02-2505500 ext 3490 to 3494, or TAT call centre 1672, or log in to http://www.muaythaifestival.com/.
Experience the diverse past of Phuket’s multicultural Heritage.
Phuket is full of festivals and one of them is the Old Phuket Town Festival which is held during the Chinese Year each Year.
The purpose of this colorful and exciting festival is to remembering the history of Chinese immigrants in Phuket. According to the history books of the island Thalang Road is the oldest road in Phuket Town but also the roads around are full of these Sino-Portuguese architecture style houses.
Local people setting up there shops to stop by, taking pictures and try out some of the famous products. Many small restaurants along the streets invite you to take a rest and having a enjoyable deeper look in the live of these streets.
During the Festival guests have the opportunity to test a lot of different tasted of delicious dishes, watching historical Thai dances along the street, get inspired from the past of this remarkable era. A must to see is the parade, which showcases the historical origins and the unique ethnic mix with their traditional dress and blend of cultures.
Also outside of the Old Phuket Town Festival, Phuket Town is a place to visit, take the Old Phuket Town walking trail and discover the history of the island.
More information of Phuket Town and especially the Old Phuket Town can be found here or contact us .
January 23, 2011 the first day of the
Chinese new year – Year of the Dragon..
Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holiday, which is celebrated in areas with large populations of ethnic Chinese.
The Year of the Dragon is said to be the Black Dragon or Water Dragon year.
The first day of the Chinese New Year – which begans at midnight on January 23, 2012 – is the most important of Chinese holidays. This celebration last for the next 15 days and culminating with the Lantern Festival.
Each year is associated with on of the 12 animals at the Cinese Zodiac and for 2012, it is the Year of the Dragon.
All legendary stories about the chinese dragon are from the sky, which means in China from heaven. Unlike the demon that gets slayed in western literature, the Dragon is a symbol of good fortune and intense pover in Eastern culter. The Dragon is the symbol of power from heaven and regarded as a divine beast.
So let’s see what the Year of the Rabbit is bringing us. Happy New Year to all our friends.
Hot air flying festival
October 12, 2011 by TTRweekly
BANGKOK, 12 October 2011 – An international hot-air balloon festival returns to Chiang Mai, 25 to 27 November, Tourism Authority of Thailand announced last week.
Thailand International Balloon Festival 2011 will use the northern town’s Prince Royal’s College venue this year with a promise of a bigger turnout of hot-air balloons.
There will be 15 hot air balloons floating in the Chiang Mai sky over two days and five tethered balloons for visitors to see the hot air balloon up close.
To be hosted by Earth Wind and Fire Company, the event is held annually. It was held in Nakhon Nayok, last year and there were around 21 hot air balloons joining the festivities.
The theme for this year will be Glow Night & Festival of Light.
According to the host, it hopes to attract a mix of Thai and international visitors for the three-day event.
Hot-air balloon teams from around Asia are expected to compete at the festival.
“Thailand International Balloon Festival is a high season opener for Chiang Mai,” said TAT deputy governor Vilaiwan Twichasri.
The entrance fee is Bt50 per person.
The festival dates back to 2007 when it was hosted by Pak Chong in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The organizers now say they intend to keep the event in Chiang Mai rather than hosting in different destinations.
Come and joy the fun during Songkran in Thailand
One of the famous festivals in Thailand is Songkran. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia and is taking place between the the 13th and the 15th of April.
Songkran was celebrated originally only in the north of Thailand and was probably brought there by the Burmese, who adapted it from the Indian Holi festival. It spread across Thailand in the mid 20th century and is now observed even in the far south. However, the most famous Songkran celebrations are still in the northern city of Chiang Mai, where it continues for six days and even longer and takes the form of religious ceremonies as well as public festivities.
Merit-making ceremonies are held at Buddhist temples, Buddha images are bathed and in ancient days, old people were actually given a bath and clothed in new apparel presented by the young folks as a token of respect for the New Year. Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends and neighbors by capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddha’s for cleansing and then using this “blessed” water to give good fortune to them by gently pouring it on the shoulder.
It is also an old belief that the Nagas or mythical serpents brought on rain by spouting water from the seas. The more they spouted, the more rain there would be.
The tradition of throwing water was at first based on a religious ritual, but soon evolved into an entertaining activity that people indulged in one this holiday. It has also become a party for foreigners and an additional reason for many to visit Thailand for immersion in another culture and giving Songkran the name “Water Festival”.
These days Thais as well as foreigners roaming the streets with containers of water or water guns (sometimes mixed with mentholated talc), or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby. Passers-by stand the chance of getting soaked when they walk on the road, but all this is done in a festive spirit. Another common sight during Songkran is people with a white chalk or talcum powder caked on their faces. This is believed to originate from Buddhist traditions where monks mark blessings with chalk.
The New Year celebrations in Thailand are special in many ways why not escape the cold weather and celebrate your New Year in Thailand? The Thai weather, the splendid food and the genuine kindness and attitude of the locals makes this a great festival and a unique New Year location.
Interesting in celebrating Songkran with us? Let us know and we are more than happy to organize your Songkran week in Thailand.
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