Consul-General presides over the 18th Songkran Festival at Wat Thepchanthararam, Terengganu State

On 1 May 2026, Mr. Phasit Chudabuddhi, Consul-General of Thailand to Kota Bharu, presided over the 18th Songkran Festival at Wat Thepchanthararam, the first and only Thai temple in the state of Terengganu.

Dr. Balachandran Gopal Krishnan, Special Officer for Non-Islamic Affairs, Office of Terengganu Chief Minister, attended the celebration as a guest of honour. The event featured a range of traditional Thai cultural activities, including the ceremonial bathing of Buddha statues and respectful pouring of water onto the hands of monks and elders, joyful water splashing, and traditional long drum dance competition.

The continued organisation of the Songkran Festival in Terengganu reflects a strong commitment to preserving and promoting Thailand’s rich cultural heritage in Malaysia. It also serves to strengthen the close ties between the Thai community and Malaysians of Siamese descent, as well as other local communities.

On this occasion, the Consulate-General provided financial support of RM17,800 to Datuk Eh Chan Tom, Permanent Chairman of Kuala Terengganu Loy Krathong Association, to support the organisation of the Festival.