The legislative assembly of New York State has adopted a resolution designating Songkran as an important cultural event for the Asian-American community in the state.
The resolution, proposed by Steven Raga, a legislator in New York State, was adopted during a meeting of the assembly in Albany, the capital of New York State, on April 1st.
In the resolution, it is mentioned that Songkran is not only celebrated in Thailand, but also in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as among minorities in Vietnam, China’s Yunnan province and in Sri Lanka.
The resolution was welcomed with by the Thai community and Buddhist organisations in the United States and is regarded as an honour that Songkran has been recognized as a cultural event in the West.
On April 14th, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer presided over the Songkran celebration held at the Thai Thavorn Wararam Temple in New York City.