Thais, foreign tourists seek blessings on New Year's DayListen to this articleMany people donate money to make merit with the Ruamkatanyu Foundation at Wat Hua Lamphong in Bangkok on New Year's Day on Thursday. (Photo: Varuth Hirunyatheb)Thais and foreign tourists flocked to temples, city pillars and shrines across Thailand on New Year's Day to make merit and pay respects to sacred sites, seeking blessings and good fortune for themselves and their families. In Bangkok, large crowds gathered at the City Pillar Shrine to worship and pray for auspicious beginnings to welcome 2026. Nearby, Wat Bowonniwet Vihara was bustling with a steady stream of worshippers making merit and offering prayers for happiness and prosperity. Thais and foreign tourists queue up at Tha Tien pier to take a ferry boat to Wat Arun on the other side of the Chao Phraya River on Thursday.

Source: Bangkok Post January 01, 2026 10:36 UTC