Songkran: Happy Thai New Year!
Songkran, the Thai New Year, is celebrated from April 13 to 15 in Thailand. It is also celebrated in Laos (where it is called “Songkan”), Cambodia, Myanmar, and by ethnic Dai in Yunnan, China. “Songkra” comes from Sanskrit and means “a move or change.” Songkran is also known as the “Water Festival,” since water is believed to cleanse and wash away bad luck. In fact, the most prevalent celebration associated with Songkran involves water: people roam the streets with bowls of water, water guns or even garden hoses, and drench each other, along with any passersby. Luckily, Songkran falls during the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season, so this cold showers are very welcome.
Like many New Year or change of season festivals in other cultures, Songkran includes a strong tradition of paying visits to parents and elders. People pour scented water onto the hands of the parents or elders, and ask for their blessings. The elders in return wish their children good luck and prosperity.
Other customs include visits to the temples to give food to monks, and other acts of charity or community service. Images of Buddha are cleansed with water and perfume to bring good luck and prosperity. In some cities, Buddha statues are paraded through the streets. When people visit temples during Sangkor, they often carry handfuls of sand to their temple to pay back the dirt that they carry away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is formed into large piles and decorated with colorful flags. Some people make New Year resolutions, and many Thais believe it is a good time to thoroughly clean their home as well.
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