Songkran: The water festival of Thailand
Do you enjoy playing Holi, the Indian festival of colours, water and lots of fun? Well, the most famous festival of Thailand also involves splashing water on people, quite like Holi, but without the messy colours. Over there, it’s known as Songkran. The Songkran festival in Thailand marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year as per the Buddhist calendar. The name of the festival, Songkran, is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘approaching’ or ‘passing’. People celebrate it by splashing water on one another and getting soaked. This is what makes it so famous in Thailand! The festival is celebrated each year from the 13th to the 15th of April. So, if you ever visit Thailand during this period, be prepared to get drenched!
How did the Songkran festival originate?
You will be amazed to know that one of the most famous festivals in Thailand is rooted in Hindu mythology. The Songkran festival is said to have originated from the Hindu spring festival that celebrates the arrival of the harvest season in ancient India. Though many South Asian countries celebrate a similar kind of festival, the Songkran festival in Thailand is the most famous one! During Songkran, Thailand has a three-day national holiday although the festivities can extend for a week or longer. The first day of the festival is called Songkran day.
Song Nam Phra: A ritual of the first day
The festival starts with people cleaning their homes, temples, schools and other public places. It is believed to eliminate bad luck and prepare everything for the New Year. Followed by cleaning, the ritual of Song Nam Phra is initiated. It is about pouring scented water onto the sacred Buddha statues in Thai temples. The water is traditionally scented with a perfume called Nam Ob and is sprayed onto the torso and body of the statue or image (not on the head). This is how the first day of Songkran is welcomed.
Wan Nao and Rat Nam Dam Hua: Rituals of the second day
Wan Nao is celebrated as New Year’s Eve, on the 14th of April each year, the second day of the festival. The ritual of Wan Nao is where people prepare food and other offerings for monks and temples. Wan Nao is also the time to pay respect to elders. The young people prepare scented water to wash the feet of their parents. To prepare the fragrant water, they use rose and jasmine scents. The ceremony of washing the feet of elders and parents is called Rat Nam Dam Hua. In return, parents bless their children along with a jasmine garland. People also release caged birds and trapped fish to create good karma. Releasing trapped birds and fish is a ceremony that happens across the country. The best place to witness this event is the Phra Pradaeng in the Samut Prakan province of Thailand.
Street parties
Now you know, Songkran is all about following the rituals and respecting the elders. But this is not all! There is a lot of fun involved too! Coming to the fun part, Songkran is also celebrated with street parties. They involve loud music and friendly water fights among the locals. People can use anything they find, including water buckets to water balloon and squirt guns, to splash water on friends and passers-by. The hot days of April are perfect for getting soaked in some chilly water and relieving the heat, isn’t it?