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Cover
story
:
10 Apr 05
Vol.
22 No. 1 |
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Songkran
Festival
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The
Water Festival to Relieve Summer Heat |
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| 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.
Background of the
Festival
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. 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.
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How
the Thais Celebrate Songkran
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 entertaining guests. |
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Colourful parades and processions
usually come with beautiful ladies.
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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. |
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Buddhists sprinkle scented water
on Phra Phuttha Sihing, a sacred Buddha image
in Thailand.
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| 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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| 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. |
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Younger people pour water on
the elder's palms to convey their best wishes.
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| After
this, it is time for children and young people
to have a good time in water-throwing, dancing
and folk games. |
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Fish freeing is a way to
make merit on Songkran Day.
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| 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 the belief that these creatures
will take the bad luck away from their liberators. |
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The
Significance of Water
Some readers may wonder why water is used as a
means of greetings, blessing and showing respect
in the Songkran Festival. |
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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. |
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 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.
Songkran as a Family Bond
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, means
the day when members of a family, usually scattered
in far away places, have a chance to stay, enjoy
and celebrate together in a family reunion. |
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Saba,
a traditional game
found only at Phra Pradaeng.
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The
Songkran Ladies
Regarding the Songkran ladies, they are more hideous,
according to legend, than gorgeous. However, a
beauty contest to choose the Songkran lady of
the year always misleads people to believe otherwise.
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Where
to Celebrate
The Songkran Festival is celebrated nationwide.
Major places famous for their grand celebrations
are:
Bangkok
Ratchadamnoen and Khao San roads are where people
boisterously celebrate the festival.As this is
a crowded tourist area, many foreigners join local
Thais in their cheerful and exciting carnival-like
rejoicings.
Phra Pradaeng in Samut Prakan
Phra Pradaeng is adjacent to the outskirts of
Bangkok. It is easily accessible by buses No.82
and No.506. During the Songkran Festival, the
county provides tourists with local entertainments
like a beauty contest, a demonstration of traditional
desserts and the saba game.
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Chiang
Mai
In Chiang Mai Town, a grand-scale celebration
is held annually. Visitors will be impressed by
spectacular parades and of course by the water
splashing.
Apart from these places, Pattaya in Chon Buri
also offers full enjoyment to tourists. 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. However, 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?
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