Singapore to hold own Songkran

[Mid]

Singapore to hold own Songkran
Chadamas Chinmaneevong
18/03/2014

Singapore is organising its own “Songkran” festival to compete with the one in Thailand but an executive of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says it still won't match the one in Thailand.

Singapore will hold its “Celebrate Songkran 2014” festival at the Padang open field opposite Singapore’s City Hall on April 12 and 13.

It coincides with the Songkran (Thai traditional New Year) festival of Thailand in the middle of next month.

Singapore’s event is described as the largest water festival celebration party outside of Thailand.

It includes music performances, a Thai boxing exhibition tournament, a Thai night market and a carnival.

While some netizens are pleased the Songkran tradition of Thailand is attracting worldwide attention, others think Singapore is using a well-known Thai tradition to woo tourists.

Sugree Sithivanich, deputy governor of the TAT, said that a private organiser in Singapore created the event and used the word “Songkran” because it was well-known and attractive.

Mr Sugree said the Singapore festival will be nothing more than an entertainment event.

He is confident that tourists who want to experience the real Songkran festival will still visit Thailand.

“It is a man-made event but our festival is real tradition,” said Mr Sugree.

Songkran is traditionally celebrated by Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar as well as ethnic groups in Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka and India. It means a transition to a new year.

Originally people in the region gently poured water on their family members and neighbours as part of the transition to traditional New Year in the middle of summer.

On this occasion, young people also traditionally seek blessings from senior citizens and remember their ancestors.

Workers return home to be with their families during the Songkran festival.

While some of these traditions still persist, the festival is also promoted as a water splashing event to bring in tourists.

bangkokpost.com

[aging one]

Oh shit, no tourists, our passports cant be forged and now another venue for Songkran. This could be taken to the international court of the UN.

[Mid]

This could be taken to the international court of the UN.

Gotta start somewhere ...................

A Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) executive said on Tuesday that she plans to consult other state agencies to see if legal action could be taken to protect Thailand’s cultural heritage in the wake of a Singaporean plan to hold a “Songkran” festival in the city-state next month.

TAT considers legal action over Singapore Songkran | Bangkok Post: breakingnews

[Necron99]

They probably could challenge it.
Same grounds as Champagne, gouda etc....

Singapores will be better though. Refined tasteful. Everything Thailand is not.

[Rural Surin]

Laos, Cambodia, and Burma already match it.

[Norton]

Refined tasteful.

Refined! Surely you mean fined for throwing water on someone without proper government Songkran certificate.
Certificate, a mere $200 Sing. Supply limited.
Fine, $2,000 Sing.

[Gilbert]

Singapore's will be boring. Just like Singapore is.

[Necron99]

Singapore's will be boring. Just like Singapore is.

Well it wont be throwing buckets of water and flour into the faces of passing motorbike riders. So boring, maybe yes.

[Gilbert]

Singapore's will be boring. Just like Singapore is.

Well it wont be throwing buckets of water and flour into the faces of passing motorbike riders. So boring, maybe yes.

Don't like Thai Songkran either, but Singapore will find a way to suck the life out of it. They are soooooo boring. Wealth Management. What else can you expect.

[TonyBKK]

Singapore's will be boring. Just like Singapore is.

^ There's some truth to the old saying "Only boring people get bored"

[Gilbert]

^ There's some truth to the old saying "Only boring people get bored"

'

Never get bored, me. Singapore is a boring place though.

[prawnograph]

Not entirely new to Singapore, just bigger, more commercial

Photo Essays: Songkran in Singapore

Publish date: 16 April 2012
Every year over the Songkran weekend, Singapore's Thai community gets drenched at Golden Mile Complex as they mark their New Year with a splash. To them, water symbolises cleansing and renewal, and is generously hurled at others as a mark of celebration.

The Thai eateries, bars, supermarkets, and provision shops at Golden Mile (the Little Thailand of Singapore) often take part in the festivities, using water guns, buckets, and even hoses to give any passer-by a nice 'wash.'

The Straits Times photojournalist Raj Nadarajan documented the little water party that took place in the complex on April 15, 2012.

[kingwilly]

^ There's some truth to the old saying "Only boring people get bored"

'

Never get bored, me. Singapore is a boring place though.

Singapore's will be boring. Just like Singapore is.

Well it wont be throwing buckets of water and flour into the faces of passing motorbike riders. So boring, maybe yes.

Don't like Thai Songkran either, but Singapore will find a way to suck the life out of it. They are soooooo boring. Wealth Management. What else can you expect.

Singapore's will be boring. Just like Singapore is.

Have you actually been to Singapore in the past decade?

[Smug Farang Bore]

FFS thats where I flew to get away from that shite..!

[VocalNeal]

Singapores will be better though. Refined tasteful. Everything Thailand is not.

What you mean no topless katoey dancing on the roof of a pickup!

[kmart]

FFS thats where I flew to get away from that shite..!

Yep. I usually find somewhere else to escape this fucking debacle also. Seems we might have to go further afield now.

[Gilbert]

Have you actually been to Singapore in the past decade?

About 3 weeks ago, and glancing at my passport, 17 times since November 2013. So yes, I have, and it is shit arse boring.

[Mid]

Official: No Plan To Sue Singapore Over Songkran

(20 March) The head of the Thai cultural watchdog has disputed reports that indicate officials are taking legal action against Singapore for organising a Thai traditional New Year festival.

Billed as the "Largest water festival celebration party in Singapore" and "The largest Songkran outside Thailand", the event, to be held on 12-13 April, features water-splashing fights and musical performances.

According to information on their website, the event appears to be co-hosted by several private companies, without direct partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) or the Thai consulates - unlike Songkran celebrations in other overseas Thai communities, such as Australia and Hong Kong.

The news has received mixed reaction from the online community in Thailand. While many welcome the event as a proof that Songkran has become so successful and widely recognised by an international audience it has been adopted by foreign organisers, others accused the Singaporeans of "stealing" the Thai tradition.

Debate intensified after several media agencies quoted Ms. Yupa Taweewattanakijbaworn, Director of the Culture Surveillance Bureau, as saying that her agency was considering a lawsuit against the island nation over the "unauthorised" celebration of the Songkran Festival.

Ms. Yupa was also quoted as saying that the Singaporeans have "distorted" the tradition of Songkran by using it solely to promote tourism without paying tribute to the cultural roots behind the festival.

The reports have baffled many observers, leading one prominent historian to comment on his Facebook page that it is incredible that any Thai official would proclaim the ownership of Songkran since the tradition has been inherited from Thailand's neighbouring cultures, and it is still celebrated in the regions beyond Thailand.

However, Ms. Yupa told Khaosod late yesterday that her agency, which operates under the Ministry of Culture, has no intention of filing any lawsuit against Singapore.

"I never said anything like that," Ms. Yupa insisted, "Such reports have caused damage to me, and to the Ministry of Culture".

The director of Thai cultural watchdog claimed that she merely said, in previous interviews, that she positively views the Singaporean Songkran as good PR for Thai Songkran, and expressed her wish that the Singaporeans would "play Songkran correctly" in accordance to the Thai tradition.

"It's a sensitive subject. I don't want to cause any disturbance to international relations," Ms. Yupa complained, adding that she's distraught to see her "misquotes" being amplified and "distorted" on the social network.

Other tourism officials have also downplayed any impact the Singaporean Songkran might cause to Thailand.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Somsak Pureesrisak said he is delighted to see Singaporeans adopting Songkran celebration, which he believes will help promote tourism in both Thailand and Singapore, while the Department of Cultural Promotion Director Chai Nakhonchai commented that Songkran has been a "shared tradition" among Southeast Asian nations for centuries.

Organisers of the event in Singapore did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

Meanwhile, Mr. Somchart Pimthanapoonphon, chairman of Hatyai-Songkhla Hotel Association, dismissed concerns that the Singaporean Songkran would affect Thai tourism. He noted that Malaysian organisers have staged their own Songkran event in the past, yet it was not as "fun" as Thai Songkran, and foreign tourists still kept coming to enjoy the Thai festival.

"I think tourists will still prefer Songkran in Hat Yai." Mr. Somchart said, "Moreover, it's much cheaper here than Singapore".

However, Mr. Visoot Buachoom, director of Chiang Mai's chapter of the TAT, voiced his suspicion over the motives of the Singaporeans to organise their own Songkran festival.

"If you look at it in a negative way, you might have the idea that they are being opportunists, using their neighbour's culture for their own gain," Mr. Visoot said, "It's not appropriate, because it disrespects the rights and unique identity of other cultures".

But Mr. Visoot also expressed his confidence that many foreign tourists will find Songkran in Thailand more attractive, due to the "originality" and fun.

He estimated that 100,000 tourists will flood into Chiang Mai province during the Songkran holidays, generating revenues of over 1.2 billion baht.

en.khaosod.co.th

[DJ Pat]

At least Singapore won't have horrible klong water chucked at you while you ride a motorbike

[panama hat]

Official: No Plan To Sue Singapore Over Songkran

. . . the first surprise of the day . . . a sensible Thai official

[Mid]

Only in Singapore: No Songkran
25/03/2014

SINGAPORE - It's hard to imagine this could happen anywhere but Singapore.

Authorities were supposedly appalled at advertisements for "Asia's biggest water festival (outside Thailand)" and have told organisers there will be no water-throwing, no water pistols, no public drinking.


Last week's big plans now cancelled.

Instead, the Lion City's first Celebrate Songkran will be a more typical Singapore holiday.

The nation and any foreigners who wish to join can enjoy the "Water Conservation and Water Heritage Exhibition in conjunction with national water agency PUB".

The motto of the PUB, Singapore's official water agency, is "Water for All", but that does not mean for throwing or shooting.

According to the Straits Times newspaper, it was appropriate to cancel the Songkran part of the Celebrate Songkran festival "in view of the recent dry spell and current moves to cut back on water usage".

The brief Straits Times story drew many quick comments.

Many continued the week-long criticism of Singapore for "stealing" the Songkran celebration from Thailand. Several were critical of the government. "So we are now telling the world our water producing capabilities are not as good as acclaimed?" was one.

bangkokpost.com

[panama hat]

According to the Straits Times newspaper, it was appropriate to cancel the Songkran part of the Celebrate Songkran festival "in view of the recent dry spell and current moves to cut back on water usage".

Sensible. We've had three days of rain in the last few months, rationing since beginning of March - two days water, two days none.

Ridiculous to waste water like that . . . and let's remember that Singapore imports or desalinates close to 100% of their water

Isn't it great that a government makes unpopular decisions because they are simply sensible?!

The organisers of Celebrate Songkran 2014 at the Padang have taken heed of the national campaign to conserve water and nixed the water-based activities.

Instead, they will host a Water Conservation and Water Heritage Exhibition in conjunction with national water agency PUB.

The organisers said this was appropriate in view of the recent dry spell and current moves to cut back on water usage.

Speaking of sensible:

The Bangkok Post reported last Wednesday that the director of the surveillance bureau at Thailand's Ministry of Culture, Ms Yupa Taweewattanakijbaworn, had threatened to sue festival organisers for undermining the values of the Thai festival.

Full-Blown idiots . . .