ICH Thailand Festival 2024
The ICH Thailand Festival 2024, organized by the Department of Cultural Promotion, took place in Bangkok on September 20 – 22, 2024. The Festival aimed to raise awareness of the importance of the intangible cultural heritage and its safeguarding in general public. A variety of activities, including demonstration, exhibition, performance, and dialogue on various ICH elements were provided so that interested visitors could learn and experience.
The ICH practices related to traditiional craftsmanship, such as making a carp from coconut leaves, crafting Nielloware, carving Toomka lantern, Hmong weaving, and embroidering Thai national costume, were demonstrated and exhibited for sharing their own wisdom to visitors through hands-on learning. Moreover, distinguished local foods from all 77 provinces of Thailand, such as, chili paste from Suphan Buri, pineapple spicy salad from Phuket, were showcased and cooked, so visitors could have a taste on each specialty. Thai traditional dance and music from different cultural regions of Thailand – Central, North, Northeast, and South – were also attractively performed. In addition, a dialogue on ICH research was discussed by researchers and professors.
In appreciation of the dedication to safeguarding ICH, 23 communities, groups and individuals were honorably rewarded by the Department. Furthermore, 18 ICH elements were publicly added to the National ICH Inventory, thanks to the endeavour of their bearers and practitioners.
The Festival ultimately served as an ICH learning hub where people could gain awareness, exchange knowledge, and share experience on the significance of ICH and its safeguarding.
Text as provided by the organiser(s).
