Songkran Festival

Songkran Festival

The oppressive heat and the blooming of bright yellow flower  "call koon" (Cassia Fistula) is a sure reminder that Thai New Year is approaching.  A three-day public holiday (Songkran Festival)  runs from April 13-15. Even if you wanted to go to work or school.  you couldn't-it's too crowded and too wet  
Although songkran festival  traditionally took place in alliance with the full moon.  nowadays it is fixed to begin on April 13. a day known in chiang rai and the north  as "sang khan long" on this day. people would beat drums or coconut shells.       fire guns in the air and light  firecrackers in a wild effort to scare away "sang khan long"  the spirit of the year past.
Traditionally. it is on day that families will thoroughly clean their houses. their furniture. cutlery. and the local Buddhist temple in their neighborhood

the images.  or statues of the Buddha must also be cleaned. and then prepared
for the "songnam phra" ceremony. when the image is taken to the streets and devotees can generate good karma by pouring water on it. Northern Thai people 
say that if children plant  a gourd tree on this day. they will grow up to be intelligent.

On april 14. or "nao day"  pagodas of  sand are crafted by local volunteer in temples.
it is said that those who are pious and devoted to Buddhism will be reborn in the age
of  "phra sri arya.  a Buddhist   utopia. in their next lives. Even if you don't build 
a sand pagoda on this day. it is important  to be  compassionate and to avoid 
 swearing or speaking ill of people. 
After two days of physical and spiritual cleansing. you are now ready to step forward 

into the new year. which starts

On April 15. a day known as "payawan"  early in the morning. you will see many more locals than usual lining the street to offer alms to monks. They also like to go temples to Buddhist sermons and make prayers to their ancestors. then in the afternoon the young will pay visits to older  relatives. ask for blessings from them and naturally do a little water-pouring ceremony


April 16 is called "pakpee" on this day almost every family in northern thailand will prepare a traditional northern thailand recipe menu of "kanoon (jack-fruit) soup as the term noon means support  hopefully a bowl of this delicious broth will help support you for the year ahead.

And of course in between all these religious ceremonies and tradition the people of thailand love to get wet.This is the Songkran Festival.