Songkran is a Thai traditional New
Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for
3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran
Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April
14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is
Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins. At this time,
people from the rural areas who are working in the city
usually return home to celebrate the festival. Thus,
when the time come, Bangkok temporarily turns into a
deserted city.
Songkran is a Thai word which means "move" or "change
place" as it is the day when the sun changes its
position in the zodiac. It is also known as the "Water
Festival" as people believe that water
will wash away bad luck.
The Songkran tradition is recognized as a valuable custom
for the Thai community, society and religions. The value
for family is to provide the opportunity for family members
to gather in order to express their respects to the elders
by pouring scented water onto the hands of their parents
and grandparents and to present them gifts including making
merits to dedicate the result to their ancestors. The elders
in return wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity.
The values for community is to provide the opportunity
to create unity in the community such as to jointly acquire
merits, to meet each other and to enjoy the entertaining
events. And for the society value is to create concern
upon environment with cooperation such as to clean houses,
temples, public places and official buildings. Thais
value the religion bye means of merits acquisition, offerings
alms to monks, Dhamma Practice, listening to sermon and
monks-bathing.
In the afternoon, after performing a bathing rite for
Buddha images and the monks, the celebrants both young
and old, joyfully splash water oon each other. The most-talked
about celebration takes place in the northern province
of Chiang Mai where Songkran is celebrated from April
13 to 15. During this period, people from all parts of
the country flock there to enjoy the water festival,
to watch the Miss Songkran Contest and the beautiful
parades.
Songkran is a Thai traditional New
Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for
3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran
Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April
14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is
Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins. At this time,
people from the rural areas who are working in the city
usually return home to celebrate the festival. Thus,
when the time come, Bangkok temporarily turns into a
deserted city.
The Songkran tradition is recognized as a valuable custom
for the Thai community, society and religions. The value
for family is to provide the opportunity for family members
to gather in order to express their respects to the elders
by pouring scented water onto the hands of their parents
and grandparents and to present them gifts including making
merits to dedicate the result to their ancestors. The elders
in return wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity.