On  12 April 2013, the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Dubai, together with the Thai Women Association in Dubai and the Northern Emirates organized Songkarn Festival 2013 for the Thai community in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.  The festival welcomed more than 300 attendants who came together for the merit making during the morning session and the recreational activities in the afternoon.

     Songkarn Festival 2013 adopted the ambience of the temple fair in Thailand.  The participants enjoyed the traditional merit making and blessing in the morning and a relaxed, yet vibrant activities in the afternoon.  During the afternoon session, participants took part in the "rod nam dam hua" activity, where participants paid respect to the elderly or the respected members of the community by pouring water onto their hands for blessing and good fortune.  Additionally, there were various cultural and recreational activities included Thai boxing demonstration, the Songkan Junior Beauty Pageant, singing, lucky draw prizes and splashing water on one another as a sign of cleansing and to welcome the new year.