Songkran festivities return to Hong Kong this year, and are set to be bigger than ever to mark the 10-year anniversary of the water-splashing celebrations in the city. The event, called Songkran HK 2024, will commemorate the Thai New Year and take place from April 4-8 at D2 Place and Cheung Yee Street in Lai Chi Kok.
The highlight of this year’s festivities will be a day dedicated to water-splashing activities at Cheung Yee Street on April 6. The entire street will be closed off for the day, and will have a ‘water fight area’, as well as stage performances, Muay Thai demonstrations, a Miss Songkran Festival pageant, and food and game stalls. There will also be cultural, song, and dance performances.
Apart from the water-splashing event, D2 Place will exude Thai vibes from April 4-8. Visitors can head to The Space on the second floor to check out traditional ceremonies associated with Songkran, parades, as well as a Chatuchak-style market and Bangkok-inspired street food stalls. In addition, there will be Thai dance performances and visitors can also try on traditional Thai costumes. The Space at D2 will also have a section dedicated to various industries in Thailand, such as diving, tourism, weddings, and medical treatment, and beauty.
In Thai culture, water symbolises cleanliness, purification and rebirth. This is why people celebrate Songkran by bathing a statue of Buddha as an act of respect. They then splash water on each other using water guns, buckets or hand-held containers — an act that represents blessing each other, sharing joy, and purifying each other. Songkran is celebrated on April 13-15 every year.
Image credits: Songkran HK 2024
