The Chiang Mai valley is blessed with festivals almost the whole year round. Old festivals are based on the lunar calendar and either have their origin in Buddhist traditions or in Brahmanic and Tai beliefs associated with the rice growing cycle. Newer cultural festivals have evolved from a blend of local traditions and commercial interests.[See also: Tung and Taleo]
Flowers in Chiang Mai are at their best before the end of the cool season when this festival is held. This falls on the first weekend of February. The center of the festival is the parade held in the morning of Saturday. Floats decorated with flowers illustrate the theme chosen. The beauty queens surrounded by flowers make a magical sight.
The flower beds of the public gardens are bathed in color and special displays are maintained till the end of Sunday when the most beautiful float will get a prize at a competition held at the Suan Buak Hat Park.Previously the parade was held on the outer moat road from Katam Corner to Sri Phum Corner. Recently this has changed to a route from the Nawarat bridge along Thapae Road to the Suan Buak Hat Park.
This festival marks the traditional Thai New Year, which until 1940 used to be when the Siamese new year began. The festival is the most important and is traditionally held when the sun moves out of Pisces.
In Chiang Mai the main events take place over three days (the dates vary for other northern provinces). By custom the first day falls on April 13th and is the last day of the old year.
Firecrackers are let off at dawn and people spring clean their houses. In the afternoon a parade of Buddha images from Chiang Mai temples goes from the railway station to Wat Phra Singh. Northern people toss lustral water (water scented with perfume and flowers) to bathe the images as they pass along the streets. The Phra Sihing image leads the procession to Wat Phra Singh, where it is set in front of the temple for citizens to bathe throughout the rest of the festival.
Ceremonies are not held on the second day, which separates the new year from the old. In the afternoon sand is placed in the temple compound as a symbolic return of the sand carried out on the soles of shoes and feet of the people. The sand is made into small stupas for the next day.
The new year begins on the third day. The early morning is a particularly good time to visit the temples to watch people in traditional costume bringing offerings.
Ceremonies are held in the viharn. Outside, the people place flags in the sand chedi as well as symbolic sticks of support under Bo trees to bring good fortune in the new year.
Later in the day juniors pay respect to senior people and family members in a ceremony known as tam hua. In the afternoon the main government organizations hold a procession from Yupparat School to honor the governor at his residence by the Nawarat Bridge.
[ See also: Water throwing at Songkran ]