Elephants join Songkran festivity at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden
An elephant show at Chonburi’s Nong Nooch Tropical Garden demonstrates the beauty of Thai tradition to mark the country’s traditional new year.
Four pairs of mother and daughter elephants will perform the “Rot Nam Dam Hua” ritual – a ceremony where younger people prepare scented water to wash their elders' hands and ask for blessing.
The performance highlights the animals’ cuteness as well as reminding visitors to pay respect to their elders on Songkran Day, which is also National Elderly Day, Kamphol Tansajja, president of Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, said on Saturday.
Visitors to the garden in Sattahip district of Chonburi province can also participate in the “Song Nam Phra” religious ceremony, where Buddha statues from nine temples in the province will be on display for devotees to pour scented water on them. The ritual is believed to be a way of paying respect to the Buddha statues and to bring good fortune.
Under collaboration with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the garden also organised a parade of floral caravans carrying “Nang Songkran”, or Songkran Goddess, according to Buddhist mythology to greet visitors, Kamphol said.
The parade and elephant shows will be available daily until Monday, April 15. A live musical performance by the Nong Nooch Band, a cabaret show, and an elephant-bathing activity will be available to visitors until April 16.
