Songkran or as known as “Water Festival”. One of the most famous festivals in Thailand. A huge number of tourists travel across a continent to Thailand for participating this world-famous fun festival. However, most of tourists know Songkran as a splashing water festival but do you also know the spiritual beauties behind it? So, let’s get to know more about Songkran!
What and when is “Songkran”?
First let’s get to know the meaning of this word. Songkran comes from Sanskrit word means “passing” or “approaching” which refers the sun that travels from Pisces to Aires. So, we consider this as the beginning of a Thai new year.
Songkran festival has 3 days in a row, starts from 13th to 15th April of every year. The first day of Songkran we call it Wan maha Songkran, which literally The great day of Songkran. And the next day we call it Wan Nao and the last day we call it Wan Taleng Sok. So, these three days become national holidays. Normally we get about 3 – 4 days off.
What do Thais do in Sonkran?
Of course, we splash water to each other which is the funniest part of it. But we also do some traditional activities as well.
In the morning, we will go a temple to make merit, give offerings to monks and listen to a chance. Beside this, we also gently sprinkle water onto a Buddha image or monks. With this, we believe that it’s a good start of a New Year.
After that, we will go back home and give the same thing to our grandparents, parents and older people that we respect, wishing them a good, healthy, happy and long life.
In the evening, we will go to build sand chedis at a temple. But this is very traditional and ancient activity. Nowadays, it’s very rare to find this.
Family Day
Every 14th April, it’s considered as a “Family Day”. So, in this day of course, we will spend time with our family. For example, I will go back to see my grandparents or have a trip with them.
So, you can see that apart from throwing water to each other, Songkran has another side of it. It’s not just a festival for fun but it’s actually meaningful and important for family unit. It has its own beautiful main ideas. So, next time if you come here during Songkran you can tell your Thai friends that you know how meaningful and amazing Songkran is.
Wasina Rukvichai
