Festivals and Events: History, Literature Review, Impacts, and Sustainability Principles

1Running head: FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Festivals and Events
Author’s Name
Institution Affiliation

2FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
Festivals and Events
Introduction and History of the Event
Introduction
Festivals are the ways of enjoying a country’s culture. The feature of celebrating festivals
or enjoying events is solely to cherish the life fully in a varied way. Events are organized for the
people to precisely understand different human cultures. It is a way of celebrating what people
possess and celebrating it. Festivals held in a country attract tourists, which largely influences the
nations in all possible ways (Cudny, 2013). Additionally, events are defined as something that is
essential and forms a vital component of human life. It involves a set of situations that are
temporarily organized with noteworthy incidences at a definite time and place. Planned events
turn a location into an exciting environment, which readily contributes to the consumption and
exploration of the culture (Valentino, 2015).
History of the Event
Thailand celebrates its new year with an ultimate water battle, which commences on the
month of April on a yearly basis. This annual festival is known as Songkran. In this particular
festival, entire country is found to be enjoying their work-offs, family time, visiting temples, and
partying (Carruthers, 2018). The water battle celebrated during this time is also known as Thai
Water Festival. This custom of celebrating it is considered to be a way of finding its origin from
spring-cleaning feature of Buddha. Part of the ceremony belongs to cleaning the images of
Buddha with peace and dedication. The words ‘Songkran’ has been derived from Sanskrit, which
depicts the sun’s movement from one zodiac sign to the other. The importance of Songkran is
when the sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries. The date of celebrating Songkran was decided by

3FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
astrological calculations but it has been changed. At present, it starts from April 13 of each year
(Office Holidays, 2018).
The festival is all about cleaning the houses, purification of mind, and body along with
living life in a new way. During this festival, Buddha’s statues are taken to be washed with
flower-scented water. This festival is a way of celebrating a day while paying respect to Buddha
and the elderly. Sprinkling water on people symbolizes the wishes of getting rid from negative
thoughts as well as actions. Chiang Mai is the place, where the wildest celebration takes place
every year and other places, which hosts this festival includes- Bangkok and Phuket among other
tourist destinations (Rodgers, 2018). The festival starts from the early morning with the
Buddhists individuals visiting temples for receiving devotional favor from the monks and listen
to the spiritual words of Dhamma. In the afternoon, people of Thailand offer their prayers to
Buddha by sprinkling water on his statue. People residing in Thailand believe that respect for
elders and peace within oneself is necessary for leading a life without committing any sins.
Establishing goodness within oneself by driving away the bad omen is the primary purpose of
organizing this festival (Tourism Authority of Thailand, 2014).
Literature Review
Festivals are often considered to a priod in calendar year, which allows people to of enjoy
time without any worry and involving in cultural celebrations leaving all work aside. The people
of Thailand celebrate Songkran festival whole-heartedly. This festival has a significant impact on
the country, as holding such wide- known celebrations encourage the economy and tourist-
related factors. Tsai & Sakulsinlapakorn (2016) stated that a campaign of Cultural Ministry of
Thailand recommends the citizens to purchase scented water, garlands, fabric clothes, and
handicrafts. This is mainly to increase the profit level margin largely. Similarly, Getz (2008) has

4FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
provided importance for conducting events as the sole reason of encouraging tourism in the
country. In addition, the planned events increase the significance of destination competitiveness.
Wongsawat (2015) further stated that this festival adds enriching value in an individual’s life.
The values, which are considered to be essential for an individual to lead a peaceful life includes
values for family, community, society, and religion. Values of Songkarn festival is decorated
when the Thai culture is presented. The features of Thai culture exhibits the intensification of
family bonds, pleasure in giving away, culturally satisfied, unity in domestic matters,
improvement of folk music along with dance and displaying the beauty of Thai language
(Wongsawat, 2015).
Importance of festivals and events are well explained by Popescu & Corboş (2012)
indicating that the events represent the country to the tourists. In this context, event management
increases tourism within the country. The tourist industry is mainly influenced by the long-held
events in a country or by the events, which are organized with global fame attached to it. An
event not only attracts the tourists but it also draws the attention of the industries and companies
to make investments (Popescu & Corboş 2012). Author, Mair & Whitford (2013) discusses the
topics that are related to themes, topics, and modern-day trends. The variations in themes that are
related to the event also are also perceived as one of the major influential factors for managing
the growth of tourism industry. Investors have the tendency to sponsor the events for its own
betterment. Countries can be highly influenced by the growth of events in Thailand. Events are
organized to exhibit the cultural phase of a country in many ways. Additionally, the events are
necessary to understand the actual growth of the specific country. Thus, Thailand possesses own
culture along with society to flaunt in its best way by organizing an event.