On 12 April 2024, the Royal Thai Embassy in Astana organized an event to promote Thailand’s Songkran “Songkran in Thailand: traditional Thai New Year festival”. The event was well attended by 15 Kazakh youth who are young ambassadors and activists on environmental protection in Kazakhstan and 7 Thai students from Thammasart University, who are currently studying at the Eurasian National University on a-one-semester exchange program. On this occasion, Dr. Orathai Phubunlap Gunaseelan, Chargé d’affaires, a.i., delivered an opening remark, stressing the significance of Songkran festival, particularly the inscription of Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year festival, on the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List of UNESCO. In addition, Songkran festival is included as one of Thailand’s Soft Power - Festival, to which the Royal Thai Government has announced the organization of “Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024” throughout the month of April 2024.

As part of “Songkran in Thailand: traditional Thai New Year festival”, organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Astana, the participants could participate in the pouring of water over Buddha statues, one of the iconic ritual of Songkran festival; listen to the speeches of the Kazakh and Thai youth in comparison about the New Year festivals of Kazakhstan and Thailand - Nauruz and Songkran, respectively; and enjoy the video presentation on “Songkran in Thailand: traditional Thai New Year festival” and the photos exhibition about Thailand tourist attractions and world-class Thai cuisine. The event has greatly helped increase interests in Thailand as well as raise awareness on Songkran festival among the young people of Kazakhstan, especially through the power of social media used by the youth, participating in the event.