Tourism Authority of Thailand celebrates Songkran Festival in Kolkata

To celebrate the Thai new year Songkran Festival, that is celebrated across Thailand on 13th April every year, and to update the Kolkata travel agents and wedding planners about Thailand’s reopening; TAT New Delhi organised a networking lunch at Baan Thai restaurant at The Oberoi, Kolkata on April 8th. Association heads, travel agents, wedding planners, airlines and media attended the event.

The networking event was a great way to reconnect and celebrate with the Kolkata travel trade and wedding planners. Kolkata being in close proximity is a very important market for Thailand and has always provided good number of tourists to the Land of Smiles.

The guests were greeted with a traditional Songkran ritual of welcome with water in a silver bowl that was infused with flowers and essence. Partner airlines Go First, Air Asia and Thai Smile participated at the event by offering tickets to Thailand for lucky draw winners at the lunch.

In Thailand, during the Songkran festivities, young people pay tribute to the older ones, parents as well as grandparents. Traditionally, they prepare a special kind of water that smells of rose and jasmine, and use it to wash their parents’ hands and feet.

Afterwards, the children receive their parents’ blessings. Post the rituals, the youngsters dress in colourful clothes and play with water to celebrate the Thai New Year with great fun and enthusiasm.

At the event, members of the travel trade and media along with friends of Thailand were welcomed by Acharapan Yavaprapas, Consul General, Royal Thai Consulate who had just moved to Kolkata and this event was her first interaction with the Kolkata travel trade.