“Songkran in Thailand, Traditional Thai New Year Festival” has been included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The announcement was made on 6, December 2023 during the 18th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, being held from 4-9 December 2023, in Kasane, Republic of Botswana.
The prestigious recognition follows the inclusion of “Khon, masked dance drama in Thailand” in 2018, “Nuat Thai, traditional Thai massage” in 2019, and “Nora, dance drama in Southern Thailand” in 2021. Thailand joined the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in September 2016.
“In Thailand, Songkran refers to the sun’s annual passing into the Aries constellation, the first sign of the Zodiac, which marks the traditional start of the new year,” UNESCO said in a statement. “Occurring in mid-April after the rice harvest, it is a time when people reunite with their families and pay their respects to older adults, ancestors, and sacred Buddha images. Pouring water is a significant act during Songkran symbolising cleansing, reverence, and good fortune.”
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been promoting Songkran over the years.
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