The Ganesha Festival

Last week I stumbled across the 19th annual Ganesha Festival while passing through downtown Bangkok.

the Ganesha Festival

Ganesha is a Hindu god. The festival was going on for two days, and was attended mostly by the Indian-Thai and Indian expat populations of Bangkok. I just happened to catch a few minutes of it as a big parade was about to start.

parade floats

There was lots of music, singing, and dancing. As the floats headed out into the street, led by police escorts on motorbikes, everyone was cheering and shouting. It seemed like an exciting, fun, vibrant celebration!

heading down the street

Ganesha is the Hindu elephant-headed god of luck, scholars, and beginnings. He's very popular, even in Thai Buddhism, and Ganesha is even the symbol of Silpakorn University.