procession in Democracy Monument
that extended itself until Sanam Luang.
Over two thousand participants took
part in what was a marvellous showcase
of culture, colour and tradition. Over
the space of several days, dancers and
artists performed traditional dances
from the Ayutthaya to the Rattanakosin
periods in order to show the evolution of
Thai tradition across time. The highlight
was a spectacular Khon dance that was
appropriately billed as the world’s
largest masked performance, which drew
great crowds of people.
Speeches were given by experts
who spoke about how positively the
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May 15 - June 15 , 2015
city has been evolving and about the
contributions each monarch had made to
the development of Bangkok. There was
a pageant to name cultural ambassadors
for each locality followed by a wonderful
display of Thai cultural products. Such
products included popular dishes
such as Som Tam and Pad Thai. This
was all ended with the highlight of the
anniversary, consisting of a stunning kite
festival that displayed the different types
of kites that have been made popular
in the kingdom. This was displayed
through a fight between the Chula kite
and the Pakpao kite. Once this was done,
stands were opened in which members
of the public were taught how to make
each respective kite and were allowed to
take it home.
Bangkok’s 233rd anniversary was
a great success and showcased the
very best of the city’s rich culture
development across this period. If
you missed it, do not worry, as the
celebrations are held every year (though
not as grandiose) and allow you to
immerse yourself in Bangkok’s stunning
history and magnificent culture.