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Songkran – Thai New Year – The Water Festival
Songkran is a time of homecoming, when Thai families gather together to celebrate the Thai New Year, to honour the elderly, to participate in Buddhist rituals and to splash watery blessings on each other. Celebrated from April 13-15, Songkran marks the transition from old to new, with lots of spring cleaning and wearing new clothes.
Early morning on April 13, people gather at Sanam Luang in Bangkok to offer food, flowers and necessities to Buddhist monks, receiving blessings for their deeds. This scene is repeated in every city and town in Thailand, followed by a parade of Buddha images for further blessings. After the formalities, the water throwing begins. While water splashing symbolises blessing and purification, for the young at heart it’s just great fun. Water by the bucketful is thrown in all directions; everyone gets wet — and in the hot April weather, everyone enjoys it!
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In Bangkok, festivities begin with the parading of the Phra Buddha Sihing on the grounds outside the Grand Palace. In the Wisutkasat area, once the merit-making rituals have been completed, it is followed by a Miss Songkran beauty contest and entertainment.
The Khao San Road, Bang Lumphu area is also one of the hot spots in the city to experience the water-splashing activities. |
At the city resort of Pattaya, Songkran is celebrated with the Pattaya Festival Procession Contest featuring lots of fun activities along the beachfront including the Miss Pattaya Jumbo Queen contest. At the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, the Thai New Year festivities feature the ancient customs and traditions of Songkran that have been observed through the centuries.
Khon Kaen is another interesting place to be at this time with its floral float processions and north-eastern folk entertainment Songkran is also a time for the lovely ceremony called Rot Nam Dam Hua, in which younger people bathe the hands of their elders in scented water and ask forgiveness for any misdeeds. The elders respond with blessings and advice to their juniors, and delicious sweets are then shared. This is very much in keeping with the Thai tradition of respect for age and position, and it strengthens the bond between the generations. The watery fun attracts overseas visitors in droves, all eager to experience the excitement and holiday atmosphere of this immensely popular festival. |
