Chiang Mai: The Procession of Phra Buddha Sihing, featuring more than 40 significant Buddha images from local temples, attracted Chiang Mai residents and tourists eager to participate in the traditional water-pouring ritual for good fortune.
According to Thai News Agency, both local and international visitors gathered along Tha Pae Gate Road to witness the procession and engage in the ceremonial bathing of the Phra Buddha Sihing statue during the Songkran Festival. The event began with a ceremony to invite the Phra Buddha Sihing to be placed on a decorated carriage, followed by a procession that included dancers traveling from Chiang Mai Railway Station, across the Naowarat Bridge, and through Tha Pae Gate to the city's moat, eventually returning to Wat Phra Singh.
The annual procession is a cultural highlight, offering a rare opportunity for participants to bathe the revered Buddha image of Chiang Mai. In total, 47 processions feature important Buddha images from temples across the province, allowing people to pay homage and participate in the traditional Lanna practice of bathing the statues with turmeric and sour orange water.
The Thapae Gate area has been bustling since the afternoon as tourists engage in water play, using water guns and other equipment to enjoy the festivities despite the hot weather. Some participants have arrived on motorcycles or pickup trucks equipped with water tanks, leading to increased traffic congestion around the moat.
Despite the heat and humidity, the Songkran celebrations continue to draw visitors, with expectations of larger crowds in the evening for the opening of the water tunnel at 5:00 p.m.