This week in Thailand is
Songkarn feastival or water flight festival. Songkarn is a popular festival
which attracts many travelers from over the world to join this fun festival.
People may splash the water to each other. However, do you know why it is important
for Thai people? If you never know, let's learn together...
The word
"Songkran" comes from Sanskrit which means that stepping up the grill
or on the move, moving. In the other words means into a new era for Aries or
New Year's Day. The Songkran festival is an old tradition of Thailand inherited
from the ancient tradition with Chinese New Year. It is collectively
"Songkran New Year Festival," which refers to the traditional New
Year's Eve and welcome to New Year.
The Songkran holidays
are divided into three days.
- On April 13, called Maha Songkran Day and it is a
National Elder Day
- On April 14 called Wan Nao or Wan Da and it is family day
- On April 15 the New Year Day
The first day of the
festival is of 13th April is
Maha Songkarn and National Elder Day. Thailand has an important tradition of paying
respect to the elder call, “Rod Nam Dam Hau”. In this traditional, the young
pour scented water over their elder’s hands, they in return, wish them good
health, happiness and prosperity.
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| Rod Nam Dam Hau |
14 April is a family day or Wan Nhao
day. Wan Nhao is the day when is not
permitted to speak, talk, or say anything bad. People do not supposed to make
any quarrel or talk rudely on this day. Otherwise they will face a bad luck for their whole new year. Also, today is " Wan Da" or " Da Day" or preparation day is the day people cook a kind of food and desserts, as well as prepare necessary things to bring to a temple in order to make a good merit. Later in the afternoon, people will go to the temple to participate in activity called, " Song Nam Phra ( sprinkle scented water onto a Buddha image and Monk)" and " Kon Sai Kao Wat". Kon Sai Kao Wat is tradition that people carry sand to pile it up in a field of the temple, meaning they return each grain of sand back to the temple from each time they visit the temple. It is a way to maintain a temple and call for an action for people participation.
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| Song Nam Phra ( Phra in this image mean the Buddha image) |
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| Song Nam Phra ( Phra in this picture mean Monk) |
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| Kon Sai Kao Wat |
The Last day of Sangkarn is April
15th is the beginning of New Year
in Thailand. Almost people enjoin party and splash water to other people.
Songkarn
festival is change a lot at the present, but it is an important for Thai
people. Also, it is happy time for everyone.
This looks like a very festive time -- is there a serious side to it too?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting.
ReplyDelete