Songkran Festival

(First published in Small World Ezine on 24 March 2003)

 

Thai people celebrate at least three "New Year". We 
celebrate the first of January, the Chinese New Year and 
Thai New Year.

Thai New Year festival is also called "Songkran". Keep 
reading for the legend and tradition.

 

Although "Songkran" is a Sanskrit term, and Thais go to 
temples during the festival, but Buddhism has nothing to do 
with this ancient Thai New Year. It is believed that the 
"Tai" ethnic group -- as well as most other ancient 
civilisation -- have been celebrating their new year on the 
first lunar day of Aries. It is spring in the northern 
atmosphere and the end of drought season in the south.
Farmers can start preparing their fields after the festival.

In modern Thailand, the New Year takes place from 13 to 15 
April of every year. But the celebration could last from 
the 11th until the 20th. People return home, visit the 
temples to give away items to the monks and to the poor. 
Then there will be family gathering. No matter how old we
are, if there is somebody in the family who is older than 
us, we'll have to visit them to show gratitude to ancestors
and ask for blessing. Then, after travelling to the house of
grandparents, grand aunts and uncles, uncles, older cousins,
older sisters and in-laws, etc., we are free to have fun. 
(Oh, it sounds like you have too many people to visit in a
day, but in reality everyone will meet at the family's 
oldest relative, without appointment. At the same time the
oldest relative knows she is the target. She will prepare 
lunch or snacks so that we stay longer until everyone 
meets. Visitors normally bring food too.)

At this time of the year, Bangkok is one of the best place 
to visit. There are celebrations and there is no traffic!

Why is there no traffic? Well, one of the reason is because
2-3 millions workers have already left for their homes in 
the provinces. The other reason is because those who stay 
won't leave their house unnecessarily if they don't want to 
get wet.

The other name of "Songkran" is "Water Festival". After all 
the visits to temples and relatives' houses, kids and adults 
will bring their water weapons (water guns, water hoses, 
water buckets, etc.) outside and start the war!

Water War on the Street of Thailand (Genesis Stock Photo)

Moreover, there are "temple fairs" everywhere. They normally 
have Miss Songkran Beauty Contest, Sand Castle contest, 
shooting games, Thai opera or dances, and plays like Ferris 
wheels, roller coasters, and bumping cars.


Police officers will be all around to catch pocket-pickers 
and perverts who try to take advantages on wet girls. They 
have their guns wrapped in plastic sheets. Last year, the 
Police Chief ordered all police officers not to join the 
water war because he was afraid somebody might mistakenly shoot people with the real gun instead of water gun! 

We (my husband, I and our daughter) were in Thailand last
Songkran. It was my husband's first water war, and he 
enjoyed it so much that we are going there again this year.

That's why we will not publish in April. Also, those who 
take Easter holiday vacation will not have their mailbox
filled with our ezines.


We will publish again in the first week of May. Don't miss 
us too much ;-)

More:

If you'd like to visit Thailand to join the festival, 
Bangkok and Chiang Mai are two best places. U.S., U.K., and ASEAN citizens can stay 30 days without visa. For others, you can apply at Bangkok airport upon arrival. However, check with your airline or travel agent when booking your ticket. Visitors from some countries are not allowed to 
apply "visa on arrival".

Thailand is on of the most peaceful countries in the world.
There is no religious conflicts. People have freedom to 
practice anything as long as it does not hurt others.

Songkran legend's here...
http://www.thailandmaps.net/festivals/songkran.html

Thailand's sceneries