Songkran Festival

( Sari New Year Festival of Chiang Mai city, Chiang Mai ) Date : 12-15 April 2008

The merriest of Thailand's festival is Songkran which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. To the Thai people, this festival is one of "water throwing" and although it has religious significance, it usually turns into great fun. Everyone gets soaking wet and since it is the hottest season of the year, the custom is quite refreshing.

 

The word "Songkran" is from the sanskrit meaning the beginning of a new Solar Year. However, in a modern times, New Year is celebrated on January 1st same as in western countries. In some ways, Songkran resembles the Christian Easter. People are dress in new clothing and visit their wat ( Temple ) where food is offered to the monks. It is at feast day for the monks, music is often played in Celebration while the food is enjoyed.On the eve of Songkran day, housewives give their homes a thorough cleaning. Worn-out clothing or household effects and rubbish are burned, it is a Public Spring Cleaning day, supported by the religious belief that anything old and useless must be thrown away or it will bring bad luck to the owner.

 

During the afternoon of the 13th. Buddha images are bathed as part of the ceremony. Young people pour scented water in to the hands of elders and parents as a mark respect while seeking the blessing of the older people. In ancient days, old people were actually given a bath and clothed in new apparel presented by the young folks as a token of respect for the New Year.Another unique Songkran custom is a releasing of live birds and fishes purchased in the markets. It is believed that great merrit is gained through this kind act.The releasing of fish custom goes back to the day when the Central plains of Thailand were flooded during the rainy season. After the water subsided, pools were left and as the pools gradually dried up, baby fish were trapped. Farmers in those day caught small fish and kept them at home until Songkran Day when they released them in to the canals, thereby gaining merit as well as preserving one of the main items of their diet.

 

The country people usually celebrate the Songkran Festival but the merriest celebration of all is held in Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand some 500 miles to the north of bangkok.If a visitor happens to be in a village out of a country road or up in Chiang Mai, he can well expect a drenching. All people, particulary the younger ones, throw water on one another during the three-day holiday.In Chiang Mai, there are processions of beautiful girls, dancers, floats and bands playing. A Queen of the water Festival is chosen amidst noise and gaiety. The river, which runs thorough the city and moat around old Chiang Mai Town, are crowded with people wading in the water and scooping it up with pans and buckets to throw in one another.

 

The visitor to Chiang Mai must plan the trip well in advance as the city is crowded with merrymakers during Songkran Festival.

 

Certain areas of Kingdom have their own unique types of games, songs and dances to celebrate the Festival. It is only natural that the farmers make more celebration as their farmwork is at a stand-still until the rain comes, when they can begin plowing for the new rice crop.It is an old belief that the Nagas or mythical serpents brought on rain by spouting water from the seas. The more they spouted, the more rain there would be. So, one might believe that the Sonkran customs of throwing water is actually a "rain making" idea, the same as in Europe where water is thrown on the last crop of corn on the farmer bringing in the last load of corn, in the hope of having ample rain for the next year's crop.

 

In a more serious vein, another Songkran custom is a religious service in memory of the dead. Monks officiate at a ceremony to pray, people pray and give food or clothing to wat (the monastic community) then dedicate of merit to others, especially the departed relative.

 

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