Get wet! Literally wet in Thailand. It’s the Songkran (Water) Festival and everyone is practically out in the streets to celebrate the New Year from April 13 to 15.Splashing and pouring water on you means a blessing for this Buddhist country, so thank the gods and Gods for blessings that come this year.
Children and adults position themselves in front of their houses and shops and splash water on everyone passing by. No one is an exception to be splashed with water, be this lukewarm or icy water. People are kind and there is no hot water to come splashing on your face.
Songkran is a three –day traditional New Year starting every April 13th of the year in Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and Lao. April 13 is Maha Songkran Day to mark the end of the old year. April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which begins the New
Year.
Songkran is Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is when the sun changes its position in the zodiac. That is, when the sun enters the sign of Aries or Ram. Songkran is also known as the "Water Festival" as people believe that water will wash away bad luck. It is a special time when people clean their houses, public places and buildings.
It is a time when people pay their respects to Buddha in their respective
temples for good luck and good health the whole year round. It is a time to give merit or offerings to the monks and receive and give joint merits too.
The Songkran also happens at a time when the Boi Sabi festival is simultaneously held in Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. The Boi Sabi festival is New Year for the Buddhist indigenous peoples of the southern part of the country. Although the new year Boishakh is also held by the Bengalis of Bangladesh on April 14.
LINKS
1st pic link
2nd pic link
No comments:
Post a Comment