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Our Most Popular Event of the Year
Songkran Celebration - Traditional Thai New Year
Sunday, April 13
- from 5:30 until 9:30 pm
Festive Buffet - $35 per person
Traditional Thai desserts and display of fruit carvings
Traditional Thai Dance and Music (performance at 6:30 and 8 pm)
For reservations please contact the restaurant.
SONGKRAN, the Thai New Year is the most exuberant festival held nationwide. The Thais celebrated Songkran officially from April 13 until April 15. These three days represent the last day of the old year, the day of transition, and the first day of the New Year.
SIAM GARDEN celebrates SONGKRAN with traditional evening of
festivities. Out team of chefs from Bangkok prepares a dazzling buffet of the most popular and specialty festive dishes, including extensive selection of traditional Thai desserts. The chefs also display their talents with exotic fruit carvings, spectacular table decorations and, as always, many other surprises.
In addition to the abundance of food, our guests can enjoy performances by the Thai cultural center of New York featuring traditional music and dance.
In Thailand Songkran days are the days of cleaning the house and the body, days of merry making, and renewal. Nothing evil has to be taken into the New Year.
On the first day of the festivities, shortly after dawn, devout Buddhists gather at the neighborhood temples to offer food for monks and prayers for the New Year. Later that day they sprinkle the rose scented water over the hands or shoulders of elders and friends in a show of respect. By mid morning this ancient tradition is transformed into a Water-Throwing Festival in order to wash away the past year's sins. The expected reaction to a cold drenching is a grateful smile.
In the following days various festivities and performances take place. In some parts of Thailand people build sand pagodas, release caged birds and fish, and play traditional games.
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