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HAPPY SONGKRAN FESTIVAL.......HAPPY THAI NEW YEAR

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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.

In Bangkok, the Buddha image "Buddhasihing" is brought out from the National Museum for people to sprinkle lustral water at Sanam Luang, opposite the Grand Palace.

http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/special_event/songkran/index.html

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Today I went out to Sanam Luang(Royal Plaza) , Khaosarn Rd & Phra-a-*** Rd with my neighbors. It was really nice we had fun & enjoy. Many thai people & foreigners there. Tomorrow I will go there again. Do you wanna come???

Welcome......13-15 April..

Visit some photos here :

http://www.sriwittayapaknam.ac.th/thaiculture/songkran.html

http://www.bangkokguidebook.com/festivals/songkran_01.php

http://www.bangkokdentalspa.com/songkran-thailand.htm

LETS GO...........

Ps...Member " PrinceofCalifornia" asked me that :

"Can you explain the meaning or reason for the powder?? I know about the water tradition, but can't seem to get a straight answer about the powder"

Answer :

We call that powder in thai language "Pang rum" is perfumed powder made from "Din sol pong" (thai word) with many kinds of aroma flowers, din sol pong is a clay rich in alumina used as toilet powder in olden days and use for put in perfumes made by Thai formulas containing no alcohol we call "Num aob thai".

Actually in olden days we had a bit powder on face & body when we went outside. Of course in Songkran festival also. Now age have changed we didn't use that powder as toilet powder in usually use that only in songkran festival just for fun & remember the past. (maybe use too much for fun..lol..just in Songkran festival)..

We still put "Pang rum" in thai perfumes....we use thai perfumes profusely in songkran festival too for put in water with jasmine or other aromatic flowers and pour water to Buddha image , Buddhist priest & senior relatives persons. We believe that our life will be prosperity.

Thanks for sharing......can you explain the meaning or reason for the powder.

I know about the water tradition, but can't seem to get a straight answer about the powder.

Posted by PrinceofCalifornia :

Thanks for sharing......can you explain the meaning or reason for the powder.

I know about the water tradition, but can't seem to get a straight answer about the powder

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Aom : Thank you for your question.

We call that powder in thai language "Pang rum" perfumed powder made from "Din sol pong", din sol pong is a clay rich in alumina used as toilet powder in olden days and use for put in perfumes made by Thai formulas containing no alcohol.

Actually in olden days we had a bit powder on face & body when we went outside. In Songkran festival also. Now age have changed we didn't use that powder as toilet powder in usually use that only in songkran festival just for fun & remember the past. (maybe use too much for fun..lol..just in Songkran festival)..

We still put in thai perfumes....we use thai perfumes profusely in songkran festival too for put in water with jasmine or other aromatic flowers and pour water to Buddha image , Buddhist priest & senior relatives persons. We believe that our life will be prosperity.

Thanks for the great explanation, it was awesome!

I think you should be writting books about Thai culture and tourist information. I have looked all over the internet and never seen such a nice description of Songkran.

Keep them coming!

Happy New Year!

Interesting info, thanks for sharing them.

Cheers! ;-)

happy new year

hope the one will be even better for u

and thx for sharing all the infos

interesting

Thanks and happy Songkran to you!