5 spectacular Thai spring festivals
From rockets fired into the sky to the world’s biggest water fight, these spring festivals in Thailand are not to be missed…
1. Bung Ban Fai
A rocket in a parade during Bung Ban Fai festival (Shutterstock)
One of the most spectacular festivals in Thailand, Bung Ban Fai, or rocket festival, is more than just a giant fireworks display. This ancient tradition marks what Thai people hope will be the start of the rains which are so crucial to their rice harvest.
There are several myths as to why these phallic-shaped bamboo tubes, filled with gunpowder and charcoal and decorated with a serpent creature called Nagas, are fired into the sky. One is that only when the gods are in love will the rains arrive. In order to encourage romantic antics, parties take place across Thailand and these giant rockets – some of which are over 9m high and contain more than 100kg of gunpowder – are projected into the sky.