AsiaRooms.com - Celebrate Tak Bat Dok Mai in Bangkok

AsiaRooms.com divulges travellers who have booked hotels in Bangkok during July may find that their visit coincides with the Tak Bat Dok Mai festivities.

It is held in the Saraburi province, to the north of the Thai capital and marks the beginning of the Buddhist period of Lent.

During this traditional Buddhist celebration, which will last for two days from July 16th to 18th, locals hand out offerings to monks as they walk along the streets in colourful processions.

Among the items given to Buddha's followers are votive candles, food, incense and flowers called Dok Khao Phansa.

These blossoms can only be found during Buddhist Lent and are picked from the forests in the hills.

Offerings of jasmine, lotus and rose are sometimes given as an alternative.

The World Events Guide notes that it is a "spectacular" event to witness, with hundreds of monks and novices making up the parade that follows a route to the Shrine of the Holy Footprint.

Ahead of the parade, folk games and cultural performances are held to keep the gathered crowds entertained.

People staying in hotels in Siam Square can reach the site of the celebrations by following Highway 1 north of Bangkok, with various bus services running between the two locations.

Trains also run regularly from the Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok to Saraburi, giving tourists staying in the capital a chance to see this unusual event.

Posted by Charlotte Springer

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