Ethnic Tai Yai people celebrate traditional New Year
Event organised by Tai Yai Ethnic Association marks beginning of the Tai Yai lunar calendar
Thousands of ethnic Tai Kha people known as Tai Yai donned traditional attire to celebrate the New Year 2119 in a vibrant farewell to the old year on Friday.
The event, organised by the Tai Yai Ethnic Association in Bangkok, took place in the parking lot of Patthawikorn Market in Bueng Kum district.
Attendees enjoyed a range of cultural activities, including traditional showcases of Tai Yai products, opening ceremonies, puppet shows, bird dances, and artistic performances that honour long-standing Tai Yai customs.
This New Year's celebration aligns with the first night of the month of January, which falls on December 30, marking the beginning of the Tai Yai lunar calendar.
The Tai Yai, an ethnic group related to the Tai-Kadai family, primarily inhabit Southeast Asia, with significant populations in the Shan State of Myanmar, Yunnan province of China, Assam in India, and northern Thailand, particularly in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Their distinctive identity is characterised by unique clothing, language, customs, and a deep devotion to Buddhism.
