Thailand’s Songkran Festival has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the Eighteenth Session of UNESCO.
The Songkran Festival in Thailand, a celebration of the traditional Thai New Year, was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the Eighteenth Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Botswana.
The Songkran Festival has been inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage or UNESCO Convention, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The inscription on the list marks another proud moment for Thailand and will contribute significantly to international recognition of the values and importance of Songkran as an intangible cultural heritage of this very important tradition, as well as a manifestation of local wisdom and cultural diversity in different regions of Thailand,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Thai Prime Minister Settha Thaweesin expressed UNESCO’s gratitude on behalf of the Thai Government and people for recognising the festival, which has the significance of celebrating the traditional New Year in the kingdom.
The Government is keen to share the knowledge and practice of Songkran with the international community. I hope that dialogue and mutual understanding will lead to peace and stability for all parties,” the Prime Minister said.
“The government invites visitors from all over the world to come and experience the traditions of Songkran in Thailand,” said Settha Thavisin.
The Cultural Development Department has organised the festive event on December 7 at Lankhon Myang City Square in Bangkok. Prime Minister Settha Thavisin will preside over the ceremony, while Anthonia Porsild, who won first place in the Miss Universe 2023 pageant, will join in introducing Songkran goddess Mahothorn Devi, who will represent Songkran in 2024.
The news of Songkran’s inclusion in UNESCO’s list comes at the same time as the National Soft Power Strategic Committee’s recent decision that next year’s Songkran festival will be the main celebratory event among the 10,000 celebrations planned for 2024.
“The next Songkran will be a world-class event called ‘World Water Festival: Songkran Phenomenon’, which will be held in 77 provinces in Thailand throughout April,” announced Paetongtharn Chinawat, vice chairman of the National Soft Power Strategic Committee.
To date, Thailand has four elements inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, namely: the masked dance drama Khon (2018), the dance drama Nuad Thai (2019), the dance drama Nora (2021) and the traditional Thai New Year festival Songkran in Thailand (2023).
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