Dusit
International announces its annual Dusit Songkran Splash Packages
2014, offering the best way to cool down and enjoy this fun festive
season in Thailand
Bangkok,
23 March 2014 – No matter where you choose to celebrate
Songkran this year, be in the heart of the action with Dusit
International!
The
most exciting place to enjoy the Thai New Year festivities of
Songkran is of course, Thailand! Offering the best locations
in some of the country’s top Songkran party cities—such as
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya and Phuket—with Dusit International,
you’ll only be steps away from joining the world’s largest water
fight.
The
resort town of Pattaya is just one hour’s drive from Bangkok’s
Suvarnabhumi International Airport and offers both beach and numerous
exciting activities for the whole family. Try a Dusit Grand room at
Dusit Thani Pattaya and enjoy 80 sqm of luxury including 2 Queen
beds, a private balcony with outdoor shower, full access to the Dusit
Club Lounge and Club Floor benefits. Or for a hip, trendy hotel in
the heart of the city’s shopping and restaurant district, try
dusitD2 Baraquda Pattaya – both hotels offer spa facilities and
guests at dusitD2 Baraquda Pattaya enjoy access to the beach
facilities at Dusit Thani Pattaya.
For
a Northern adventure, visit Dusit Island Resort Chiang Rai and
include in your Songkran festivities visits to colourful Hill Tribes,
river rafting, forests and the Golden Triangle.
About
Songkran:
Songkran
is the traditional Thai New Year celebrated in April around the
Kingdom and is a time for cleaning and renewal. The most popular
images of the holiday are of people throwing water. This originated
from the tradition of pouring water over a Buddha statue in an
elegant ceremony and then capturing the water after it had been
poured. This "blessed" water was then used to give good
fortune and show respect to elders and family members by gently
pouring it over the shoulders or clasped hands. This tradition is
still kept in homes of traditional Thai families and often takes
place on the morning of Songkran day.
It
has since evolved to dousing friends and strangers in the street with
water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in
Thailand. This is particularly fun in Pattaya when the entire town
seems to turn out with hose pipes and buckets to join in the fun.
Even taxis are ‘open’ vehicles, so be prepared to get wet when
you venture out!
More
traditional celebrations include visiting a wat
(Buddhist temple) to pray and give food to monks. Thais may also
cleanse Buddha
images from household shrines as well as Buddha images at temples by
gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance over them. It is
believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the
New Year.
In
many cities, such as Chiang
Mai,
the Buddha images from all of the city's important wats
are paraded through the streets so that people can toss water at
them, ritually 'bathing' the images, as they pass by on ornately
decorated floats. In northern Thailand, people may also carry
handfuls of sand to their neighborhood temple in order to replace the
dirt that they have carried away on their feet during the rest of the
year. The sand is then sculpted into stupa-shaped
piles and decorated with colorful flags. (Royal
Princess Chiang Mai and dusitD2 Chiang Mai are great places to stay
to enjoy these celebrations).
Besides
washing household Buddha images, many Thais also take this
opportunity to give their home a thorough cleaning. The water is
meant as a symbol of washing all of the bad away and is sometimes
filled with fragrant herbs when celebrated in the traditional manner.
Visit
http://www.dusit.com/offers/Songkran-Splash.html
for the latest Songkran Splash promotions, including discounts on
accommodation, complimentary breakfast, Dusit’s famed Songkran
Splash kits and a host of other exclusive add-ons to help you make
the most of your Thai New Year festivities.
Dusit’s
Songkran Splash promotions are valid at participating Dusit Thani,
dusitD2 and Dusit Princess Hotels and Resorts throughout the month of
April 2014.
