MEMBERS of Ballarat\u2019s Thai community have joined with people from across the state to celebrate the country\u2019s New Year, also known as a Songkran Festival.<\/p>\n
The event held at the Mining Exchange on Sunday highlighted elements of Thai culture and others from further afield, brought the community together.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like a family day, or Christmas, but a traditional Thai New Year,\u201d said organiser Kru Dip Yuanjit.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also like to get other communities involved, like the Philippines, Koreans, to join with us to share culture, and mix it up with the Australian culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Songkran got underway with a lavish parade involving singers, dancers and drummers.<\/p>\n
The event also included Thai food, performance art and traditional martial arts like Muay Thai, or Thai kickboxing, and sword fighting.<\/p>\n
Mr Yuanjit said the strength of the Thai community was rooted in Buddhist ideals of altruism and respect, with the event also serving as a fundraiser for a meditation centre in Mt Helen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Thai way of life is about respect,\u201d Mr Yuanjit said. \u201cRespect for older people, younger people, we keep friendly, smiling, happy and peaceful, and that\u2019s what we try and promote.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of Thai people love donating because they want to help people out.\u201d<\/p>\n
City of Ballarat councillor Des Hudson was the municipality\u2019s representative at the event and officially opened proceedings.<\/p>\n
He said the Songkran Festival was an opportunity for everyone to celebrate everything Thai.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe pride ourselves on being a multi-cultural city and a welcoming community,\u201d Cr Hudson said. \u201cWith many different cultures comes many different times of year to celebrate.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really want to encourage the festival and bring out Thai culture, but it\u2019s also an opportunity for other residents of Ballarat to join in as well.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MEMBERS of Ballarat\u2019s Thai community have joined with people from across the state to celebrate the country\u2019s New Year, also known as a Songkran Festival. The event held at the Mining Exchange on Sunday highlighted elements of Thai culture and others from further afield, brought the community together. \u201cIt\u2019s like a family day, or Christmas, […]<\/p>\n