COLOURFUL CHAOS
Thai New Year
It’s April in Thailand and this means just one thing - Songkran (สงกราน), the Thai New Year's festival. Though the celebration period usually includes the 14th and 15th of April, as preparations commence and excitement grows, New Year's Day itself in Thailand is officially celebrated on April 13th. Before Thailand adopted the international New Year’s Day in 1940, Songkran was calculated based on the Solar Calendar, which varied from one year to the next.
Songkran
Like so many words in the Thai language, the word "Songkran" comes from the Sanskrit. The word saṃkrānti literally translates as "astrological passage", signifying transformation or change. As April is Thailand’s hottest month, the change signified by Songkran is the end of the dry season and the beginning of the annual rains, occurring in the fifth month of the Thai lunar year.
In India, they have a festival to mark the arrival of Spring, which occurs in January. This Hindu harvest festival is named Makar Sankranti. This is where the name Songkran was borrowed from.
Astrology
Outstripping all other festivals in Thailand for Astrological significance, the Songkran Festival is by far the most important and widely celebrated event of the year for the Thai people. It is a time of enjoyment, yet also a special time to show respect for water, the most important element in the rural culture of Southeast Asia. Water is used as a symbol of cleansing as well as a symbol of renewal.
Merit-Making
Merit-Making
Myths & Legends
Myths & Legends
The three riddles were as follows:
1. Where did a person's aura exist in the morning?
2. Where was a person’s aura at noon?
3. Where did it appear at night? For six days the boy agonised over the answers to the riddles, yet could not come up with them. One the the seventh day, whilst lying under palm trees, he heard a male and female eagle joyfully talking about how they would soon be able to feast on a boy's dead body. Not knowing the boy was was able to hear, the two eagles revealed the answers to the riddles. Thammabal immediately went to Kabila Phrom and recited the answers
Myths & Legends
"In the morning, a person's aura appeared on his face, so he washed it. At noon, it was at his chest; so, he wore perfume there. And at night, his aura moved to his feet; that was why he bathed them”.
Kabila Phrom had lost the bet and so had to cut off his own head. Kabila Phrom's head, however, held special powers.
In order to save the world from these possible disasters, the god's seven daughters, the Nang Songkran, placed their father's head on a phan (tray) and carried it in procession around Mount Meru before placing it in a cave on Mount Kailash with many offerings.
Thus, at the beginning of each year, Kabila Phrom's daughters would take turns to bring out the god's head and carry it in procession around Mount Meru, this celebration is known as Songkran.
The seven daughters represent the seven days of the week and all have their particular names and vehicles that they ride on. The one who carries Kabila Phrom's head on Songkran Day is called Nang Songkran, Miss Songkran. Thus, in some locations, "Miss Songkran" is crowned, where contestants are clothed in traditional Thai dress.
Traditions
Day 2 - Wan Nao
Day 3 - Wan Payawan
As a very unifying festival, many family members who have moved away often return home to their loved ones and elders. It is also extremely important to pay reverence to ones ancestors as part of the Songkran tradition.
White Face
Din Sor Pong - ดินสอพอง is a village in Lopburi Province which has given its name to something which has been used in Thailand for a very long time.
In days gone by, Thais used it to treat rashes, skin allergies and even acne, although, due to its cooling effect, people also used it to cool the body down.
It is now synonymous with Songkran, as it is mixed with water to make a paste and gently smeared onto the faces of participants in this festival.