Edited by Anna Popper
On 15 September 2024, the Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest proudly hosted the Thai Festival 2024, a joyful event that has become a cherished tradition.
This year’s festival took place again in the beautiful garden of the Hungarian National Museum, founded in 1802. The oldest museum in the Hungarian capital has often served as the backdrop for important historic events shaping Hungarian history.
Despite the rainy weather, the festival drew many Hungarian and international visitors, eager to enjoy Thailand’s vibrant and unique culture, which has made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Asia-Pacific region, promoted worldwide under the slogan “Amazing Thailand”. The event invited local communities and tourists alike to experience the richness of Thai culture.
The festival was opened with the welcome speech by H.E. Mr. Phrommes Bhaholpolbhayuhasena, Ambassador of Thailand to Hungary, and continued with a vibrant long drum parade, also led by the Head of Mission.
The 2024 edition offered a full day of activities and a deeper insight into Thailand’s unique heritage and traditions, allowing families, friends, and culture enthusiasts to discover and enjoy the many facets of Thai culture. Held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the festival featured a line-up of spectacular events, immersing visitors in the true essence of Thailand.
Highlights included mesmerizing performances by traditional Thai dancers from the Kalasin College of Dramatic Arts, showcasing grace, elegance and exotic charm. The dancers, adorned in exquisite Praewa silk attire, represented the heritage of Kalasin Province, renowned for this intricate silk woven by Phu Thai women, earning the fabric the title of “Queen of Thai Silk”. Their artistic choreography and colourful costumes captured audiences of all ages.
Live cooking demonstrations by Chef Preecha Boonbutta from Im-oon Thai Restaurant delighted visitors with insights into Thailand’s popular dishes.
Guests also enjoyed culinary offerings from select Thai restaurants in Budapest, sampling an array of flavours from savoury spices to sweet desserts – a true paradise for food lovers. Booths from Thai entrepreneurs offered a variety of food, desserts and drinks.
Attendees could further relax with traditional Thai massages on-site, experiencing the wellness practices that Thailand is famed for.
Exciting prizes added to the festival’s appeal, including a lucky raffle draw with a chance to win round-trip tickets from Budapest to Bangkok, offered by Turkish Airlines. Quizzes about Thailand with prizes from Anantara New York Palace Budapest, De Lanna Thai Massage, Parázs Presszó Thai Étterem, and Thai President Foods (Hungary) Kft. The quiz shows and an egg-fishing game provided visitors additional opportunities to win prizes and engage with Thai culture in a fun way.
The event featured a mini fashion show, with the diplomatic corps in Hungary showcasing Thai streetwear designs created by students from the Industrial Product Design program at Rajamangala University of Technology Krungthep.
Among the notable attractions was the Wai Khru ceremony, a highly revered Appreciation Ceremony in Thai culture to honour teachers, mentors, and spiritual guides, especially in the performing arts, including music, theatre, martial arts and sports. It allows students to express deep gratitude and seek blessings for success in their pursuits, emphasizing the values of lineage, tradition, and respect. In the ceremony, students present offerings, while performing a ritual gesture known as the wai, a bow with two hands put together, symbolizing respect and devotion. Teachers bless students in return, acknowledging their dedication and wishing them success in their studies and personal growth.
Following the Wai Khru, attendees enjoyed a Muay Thai demonstration by the Hungarian Muaythai Federation, showcasing practitioners of all ages and offering a vibrant glimpse into Thailand’s national sport. The Wai Khru ceremony is especially significant in Thai martial arts, where fighters perform a ritual dance called Wai Khru Ram Muay in the ring before a fight to honour their trainers and ancestors, as well as to mentally prepare themselves for the match.
The Royal Thai Embassy also set up a booth highlighting Thai products and activities such as traditional Thai tattoos (Sakyant), bookmark calligraphy, and a popular egg-fishing game with prizes.
Thousands of visitors attended throughout the day, celebrating Thai culture and hospitality despite the lack of sunshine – a sharp contrast to Thailand’s typically bright and warm weather. The festival left attendees with delightful experiences and lasting impressions.
The Royal Thai Embassy in Budapest extends its gratitude to all supporters, owners of Thai restaurants and massage parlors, and the Thai community in Hungary for their contributions to the success of the event.
The organisers of the Thai Festival 2025 warmly invite everyone to join another day of cultural celebration and hospitality – a perfect opportunity to experience the vibrant essence of Thai culture right in the heart of Budapest.
Source: Royal Thai Embassy Budapest
Photos by the Royal Thai Embassy Budapest, and DPA
