Information:
History of the holiday.
The Songkran festival is the traditional Thai New Year's Day and is celebrated from 13 April to 15 April.
Deriving from the Sanskrit language, the word Songkran means to pass or to move into. In this context, the meaning implies to the passing and the moving of the sun, the moon and the other planets into one of the zodiacal orbits. And the Grand Songkran Festival which falls in Aries indicates the new era of the Thai New Year. Owing to the ancient Indian belief, the Grand Songkran Festival is most appropriate to be the Thai New Year due to the timing of the best season which is known as the spring of India which comes right after the cold season of winter. Also, there are other aspects supporting this belief such as blooming flowers, the fresh atmosphere of nature and the livelihood of all living creatures.
With the great influence from the Indians, the Songkran Festival portrays the typical ways of life of the Thais which involve the agricultural aspects. Free from their regular routine work, the Thai citizens will find time to perform their annual rites of showing respect to their ancestors. The highlight of the festival will include the younger Thais paying respect to their elders by sprinkling their hands with scented water. And in order to welcome the New Year, the celebration will include the delightful colourful local entertainment, which in fact, suitably unites the mutual relationship between members of the family, society, nature and the surroundings. Therefore, this Songkran Festival has proved to be the most important and grandest festival of the year. Moreover, our neighbouring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia and Lao PDR. have also organised this type of festival.
During the Sukhothai period, the Songkran Festival was practised both in the royal court palace and among the ordinary citizens. However, the size of the celebration was not as elaborate as of today. Back in those days, civil servants and other government officials would pay homage to the king, and would drink the oath of allegiance to the king or the government, while the king would provide an annual salary to all officials. Later on in the Ayutthaya period, the festival was expanded by including the bathing of the Buddha image.
Also, the festivities would include the forming of sand pagodas and entertaining celebrations. In the Rattanakosin period, the rituals have been conducted in a similar pattern as those during the Ayutthaya period.
5 Songkran Tips – Survival Guide For Visitors
1.Protect yourself – Remember that there is no exemption to get wet during the celebration. In fact, even kids are having fun refreshing themselves on water. The best way to arm yourself is to buy a water gun or bring water containers so that you will not just take the water from participants but drench against them as well. Yet, make sure the water gun is cable of shooting long distance and has a huge reservoir.
2.Buy protection for your camera – If you wish to bring your camera to capture fun moments with natives, then you should invest for protection. Or, it would be practical if you choose a disposable waterproof camera instead. In this way, you can bring captured pictures back home without having your camera in trouble.
3.Avoid big roads – In case the event starts and still you’re not yet in the place you used to stay, better avoid big roads for participants are in huge streets and will sure enjoy seeing every passerby to throw water to.
4.Dress accordingly – There is no dress code for such event. So, leave your pants and shoes at home and wear something contemporary to the participants. T-shirts and a pair of short are definitely perfect for such water splashing celebration. But before you forget, take note of the color of your shirt as it tends to become see through when wet.
5.Leave your valuables at home – If you wish to accessorize yourself with jewelries better don’t. Better leave them at home as they may get lost during the water fight event. As for gadgets, better not bring them as they might get damaged as soon as the participants start the water ritual.
Top 5 Best Provinces to Visit in The Songkran Festival.
As far as the history is concerned, this is the longest water throwing event in the world as this is being celebrated for three consecutive days – starting April 13 to April 15. Just in case you are in Thailand in Songkran 2014, don’t be surprised to see people carrying containers and throwing water to others. Even children are not exempted to get wet during the said event. Like adults out there, children are also equipped with their water guns and do the same ritual.
In spite of being a fun event, Songkran festival also focuses on enriching religious intentions. A day after the event, while men are busy working, housewives dedicate their time in cleaning just every mess at home for they believe that it is a good luck for the present year. Along with this, they also wash every Buddha image in their houses, pay a visit to monasteries and offer food to monks.
For those who have no idea about the event, Songkran is the counterpart of New Year that is being celebrated in western countries. Thailand, similar to other nations, is also divided into regions and when it comes to Songkran celebration, there are highlights in every region that everyone shouldn’t miss when visiting the place. Actually, there are top five places to visit during the festival such as:
1.Chiangmai Songkran Festival
2.Khaosan Songkran Festival
3.Silom Road Songkran Festival
4.Pattaya Songkran Festival
5.Phuket Songkran Festival
Songkran Festival is good traditonal more only Thai or tourism will splashing water.
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