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:
Songkranis 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 Buddhaimages 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 watsare 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.htmlfor 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.