Will Thailand’s Festivals Be Canceled Due to The Coronavirus?

The coronavirus outbreak has put negative impacts on numerous public events in Thailand. At the moment, there are too many questions on whether the upcoming festivals in Thailand still take place or not. Let’s see the updates on popular festivals in Thailand amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Amid the spread of the coronavirus, thousands of public events and tourism activities in Thailand have been postponed to avoid the chance of spreading infection. Even the two most important festivals in Thailand, Full Moon Party, and Songkran Celebrations have been canceled this year due to the increasingly dangerous epidemic of coronavirus.

It goes without saying that March and April will be months of cancellation. However, summertime might be an ideal time for festivals in Thailand, since the tense coronavirus outbreak could decrease in the next few months.

The cancellation of the Songkran Festival

Known as the Thai New Year's national holiday, Songkran is held annually from the 13^th to the 15^th of April in the main tourist destinations of Thailand, especially on and around Khao San Road. The throwing of water has become a huge part of this water festival, which marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year. Once you visit Thailand during the Songkran Festival, prepare to get splashed. People attending the Songkran will throw buckets of water, use water pistols, and generally soak anyone in the surroundings. Besides, ritual bathing of Buddha images, processions, and an array of traditional foods are included throughout the Songkran in Thailand.

Songkran Festival has been canceled for safety amid the coronavirus spread in Thailand

Read more: Get Ready for Songkran Festival

Every year, Khao San Road and most of the tourist destinations in Thailand celebrate the Songkran festival with street parties, loud music, and beauty contests of yore. Nevertheless, Khao San Road will be a victim of the coronavirus outbreak this year, as Thailand is trying to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Thailand's festivals amid the coronavirus outbreak

Along with the worries about spreading coronavirus, tourist associations in Thailand have been forced to cancel plenty of major traditional festivals from March to mid-April. There are backup plans that move the festivals to July instead. However, it all depends on the status of the coronavirus outbreak all over the world. Let’s see how traditional festivals in Thailand are going under the threat of the coronavirus spread.

Bun Bang Fai (Rocket Festival)

Time: May 9^th – 10^th, 2020

Bun Bang Fai, also called Rocket Festival, is an important merit-making ceremony among farming communities in Isan, the Northeastern part of Thailand. At the beginning of the wet season, Isan people attend Bun Bang Fai to make the last big ‘knees up’ before the planting season. They decorate the rockets and launch rockets into the air to encourage the Gods to send down plenty of rainfall.

This year, there is a high chance of Bun Bang Fai cancellation, as early May couldn’t be a good time to celebrate live music and party amid the coronavirus outbreak in Thailand.

The celebration of the Rocket Festival in Thailand

Phi Ta Khon (Ghost Festival)

Time: June 26^th – 28^th, 2020

Phi Ta Khon, another significant festival in Isan, reflects the belief in ghosts and spirits of the locals. The origin of the festival is rooted in mysterious legends of the dead come back to life. The main part of Phi Ta Khon is the vibrant and colorful parades with elaborate masks. There are groups of men wearing creative costumes and masks and gathering on the streets, such an amazing art with skillful handicrafts.

At the end of June, we all hope that the coronavirus outbreak will become better to give room for festival seasons in Thailand.

Phi Ta Khon is known as Ghost Festival in Thailand

Loi Krathong

Time: November 1^st, 2020

The Thai Festival of Lights must be the second best-known festival in Thailand, right after the Thai New Year Festival, Songkran. The festival is held annually in the full moon of the 12^th month in the Thai lunar calendar. On this day, people gather around lakes, rivers, and canals to release beautiful lotus-shaped lanterns, also called krathongs, decorated with banana leaves, flowers, candles, and incense sticks. This custom gives a truly mystical sight of flickering candles to send respect to the goddess on Loi Krathong Day. Every year, Loi Krathong attracts a large number of tourists to feast their eyes on thousands of awe-inspiring krathongs.

In early November 2020, it’s likely to have the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful moment, when the ease of coronavirus outbreak gets much better in Thailand.

Loi Krathong Festival in Thailand

After all, the last months of 2020 could be coming back time of festivals in Thailand after the outbreak of coronavirus.

Let’s get back your travel inspiration and energy after a long break due to the coronavirus. Then plan a Thailand tour for the festival season at the end of 2020.

Rosie Dang

(Images source: Internet)