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| Are you wondering
why we are saying "Happy New Year" to
you at this late time? That is because April 13
is the traditional Thai New Year's Day, which
is celebrated by the Thai people throughout the
country from the old to the young and from the
royalty to the ordinary people. |
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The Thais enjoy themselves
on Songkran Day.
(By courtesy of TAT)
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| Thailand adopted
this tradition from the ancient Brahmins in India
who believed that the sun re-entered Aries and
finished its orbit round the earth on April 13.
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Buddhists sprinkle scented
water on Phra Phuttha Sihing, a famous Buddha
image in Thailand.
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In northern
India, April is the beginning of spring when the
trees start to bud and bloom and the hibernating
animals come out to find food. So, for the ancient
Indian people, April was a sign of new life and
marked the beginning of a new year. That is why
they observed (some still do) their New Year's
Day on April 13.
The Thais, who began their cultural relations
with the Indians even before their recorded history,
readily inherited this tradition partly because
they were free from farm work during this period.
This occasion is called "Songkran" by
the Thais and "Sangkranti" by the Indians.
In Thailand, this festival is celebrated for three
days from April 13 to April 15. Before the celebrations,
people will clean their houses in the hope of
casting away any bad luck of the old year, so
that good fortune will slip into their new lives
instead. Food and sweets will be prepared in advance
for merit making and for treating guests. |
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In some northern
rural areas, explosive sounds and loud noises
will be made to chase the ghosts away. Candles
will be lit and piles of wood will be burned in
front of the houses on New Year's Eve to shine
the way for the spirits, which old people believe
will come out of their places on that night.
The Songkran celebrations will begin with food
presentation to the monks who will walk along
the streets in the early morning to receive food
and other offerings. But some people will take
food to the monasteries nearby for the monks.
After the food giving, the merit will be transferred
to the ancestors by pouring water onto the ground
or a tree. In big cities like Bangkok or Chiang
Mai, the most revered Buddha image will be carried
in a procession along the streets to an open space
for people to sprinkle water on to show their
veneration. |
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Younger people
pour water on the
elders' palms to convey their best wishes.
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| . One of the
activities for young people to do is to convey
their best wishes to their elders by pouring water
on them or their palms. After this, it is time
for children and young people to have full enjoyment
with water-throwing, dancing and folk games |
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Sand Chedi making is a way
of merit making on Songkran Day. (By courtesy
of TAT)
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Regarding the
origin of this joyous festival, legend has it
that there was a god named Kabilla Phrom who loved
to bet. One day he learned about a little boy
named Thammabal Kumara who, at the age of seven,
was able to recite scriptures in public. Knowing
of this prodigy, the god would like very much
to test Thammabal Kumara's knowledge.
So, he descended to earth and posed three riddles
to the boy, with a wager that if Thammabal Kumara
could solve them, the god would give him his head.
But if the boy failed to come up with the right
answers within seven days, he would lose his head
to the god. |
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The
three riddles were: where did a person's aura
exist in the morning, where was it at noon,
and where did it appear at night? The boy pondered
over these riddles for six days. Yet he could
not figure out the answers. Fortunately, while
he was lying in despair under palm trees, he
overheard a couple of male and female eagles
talking joyfully that they would soon feast
on the body of a boy who would not be able to
solve three riddles.
They then disclosed the answers to these riddles.
Thus, on the day of crucial importance, Thammabal
Kumara just repeated what he had heard from
the eagles, which turned out to be the correct
answers, viz. in the morning, a person's aura
appeared on his face, so he washed it. At noon,
it was at his chest; so, he wore perfume there.
And at night, his aura moved to his feet; that
was why he bathed them.
As he had lost the bet, the god kept his word
and cut off his own head. However, the head
of Thao Kabilla Phrom was known to have some
very strange potentialities: If it should touch
the ground, the earth would catch fire; if it
should be left in the air, there would be no
rain; and if it should be dropped into the sea,
the sea would dry up.
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To save the earth from
any of these calamities, the god's seven daughters
placed their father's head on a footed tray and
carried it in a procession around Mount Sumeru1
before setting it in a cave at Mount Krailat2
with many offerings.
Every new year at the beginning of a 365-day cycle
on Songkran Day, the god's seven daughters took
turns to bring out the god's head and carry it
in procession around Mount Sumeru.
The seven Ladies of the Songkran festival are
named after the seven days of the week. Each year,
Songkran Day will fall on one of the seven days.
For example, it falls on Tuesday this year, and
the Songkran lady is called "Raksot".
Below are brief details about them:
The Sunday lady, called "Tungsa Devi,"
wears pomegranate flowers behind her ears and
her gem is ruby. She eats a kind of fig, holding
a discus in her right hand and a conch in her
left. She rides on a garuda.
The Monday lady's name is "Korakha Devi",
she wears flowers from the Indian cork tree behind
her ears. Moonstone is her gem. She has a sword
in her right hand and a staff in her left. She
eats oil and rides on a tiger.
The Tuesday lady named "Raksot Devi"
has lotus buds behind her ears. Her gem is agate
and she holds a trident in her right hand and
a bow in her left. She drinks blood and rides
on a pig.
The Wednesday lady is called "Montha Devi"
and has champak flowers behind her ears. Cat's
eye is her gem. She holds a stylus and a staff.
She drinks milk and eats butter. A donkey is her
vehicle. |
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The
Thursday lady, whose name is "Kirini Devi",
wears Magnolia flowers behind her ears. Her gem
is emerald and she eats nuts and sesame seeds.
She has a hook and a bow as her attributes, riding
on an elephant.
The Friday lady called "Kimitha Devi",
wears waterlilies behind her ears. Topaz is her
gem and bananas are her food. A sword is in her
right hand and a lute in her left. She rides on
a buffalo. |
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The
Saturday lady is named "Mahothon Devi".
She has water hyacinth flowers behind her ears.
Blue sapphire is her gem and she eats hog deer
meat. She has a discus and trident as attributes.
She rides on a peacock.
According to the legend, these Songkran ladies
are more hideous than gorgeous. However, a beauty
contest to choose the Songkran lady of the year
always misleads people to believe otherwise.
Another tradition to be observed during the Songkran
Festival is to free birds or fish as a way of
merit making. This is done out of a belief that
these creatures will take the bad luck away from
their liberators. |
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Some
readers may wonder why water is used as a means
of greetings, blessing and showing respect in
the Songkran Festival. In fact, water is used
for such purposes not only at the Songkran Festival,
but also at other Thai traditional rites, such
as weddings and funerals.
The reason is that the Thais in olden times held
that water was a pure thing which was able to
wash all kinds of evil and misfortune away and
bring good luck and happiness with it. From what
appears on the surface, the Songkran Festival
is called the Water Festival by some foreigners.
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| In
former times when transportation was difficult,
Songkran Day was specially significant to the
Thai people. Because, in addition to its importance
as New Year's Day, when boys and girls had a chance
to meet one another and children had a lot of
fun, Songkran, like Christmas Day of the Westerners
and the Spring Festival of the Chinese, meant
the day when members of a family, usually scattered
in far away places, had a chance to stay, enjoy
and celebrate together in a family reunion. |
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This and above pictures: Scenes
of
Phra Pradaeng's Songkran Festival;
parades, a practice of bird & fish freeing,
and the saba game.
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| At
present, the Songkran Festival is celebrated nationwide.
Major provinces that will be participating in
a grand way are: Bangkok (Khao San Road -- which
is the most famous among tourists), Samut Prakan(Phra
Pradaeng county), Chon Buri (Pattaya) and Chiang
Mai. |
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In
all places, colourful and splendid processions,
a Miss Songkran contest, folk dances and traditional
games are held. No matter which place you may
visit during the festival, you are sure to find
great fun and enjoyment, though people who are
not prepared to get drenched are advised to stay
at a distance from the crowds.
So, if you are planning a vacation in April, why
not take this opportunity to join the Thai people
in their celebrations and share their enjoyment?
1According to ancient legends, Mount
Sumeru is a mount on which the Tavatisma heaven
is situated.
2Indra, a Hindu god, is believed to
reside at Mount Krailat. |
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