If you are in Thailand you are going to get wet. People throw water on each other, it’s a form of purification, but also a time to have fun after the dry season.
Thai streets come alive mid-April as the country celebrates its Buddhist holy day by spraying each other with water. Songkran is Thailand’s most important festival. Here are some things you need to know about it.
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The post “Things you should know about Thailand’s Songkran Festival” appeared first on TRT World
#1 It’s celebrated on Buddhist New Year in mid-April.
Unlike other countries that celebrate it in the New Year on January 1, in Thailand the trend is different. Songkran, or Thai New Year, is the most important Buddhist festival.
The celebrations take place between April 13 to April 15.
Derived from Sanskrit, Songkran means "Astrological Passage," and marks the movement of the sun from Pisces to Aries. Initially, the dates for the festivities were set by Brahmin priests, but now the dates are fixed.
Songkran marks the end of a 12-month cycle and ushers in a new solar year. The dry season ends and the annual rains in the fifth month of the Thai lunar year begin.
#2 It’s a day of prayer and devotion.
The day begins with a visit to a local temple. People pray and take part in cleansing rituals. Idols of Buddha are washed with scented water for good luck and prosperity, a ritual Buddhists call "Song Nam Phra."
Cleansing with water is an integral part of the festivities as Song Nam Phra also signifies purification by washing away one's sins. Offering food to the Buddhist monks and paying tributes to the dead is a common practice.
#3 Thais celebrate in unique ways.
#4 Families get together.
#5 It’s a time for parties, parades and pageants.
#6 Tourists love it and they flock in.
The festival is becoming increasingly popular and attracts tourists from all over the world.
If you are in Thailand during Songkran expect to get wet and have fun!
"It's indescribable, it's amazing. You come out, you get in the tuk-tuk and you start having a water fight with the elephants," said British tourist, David Gray said.
#7 Elephants join the party.
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