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The Songkran Festival
in Chiangmai
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Songkran today is still the most important of all the
Thai festivals and holidays. It marks the beginning of a new astrological
year and is much in keeping with the old lunar calendar of Siam. It is
officially celebrated this year on April 12, but the
festival actually takes place over a period of four days. It includes
the 'Troot Festival' discussed above as well as all the merit-making at
Buddhist temples and the ultimate Songkran, or The Pouring of
Water ritual, by which we have come to identify Songkran with
today. Each year, the four-day celebration of Songkran consists of many
activities, and these are briefly explained below.
| April 12 |
is Wan Sungkharn Lohng. This is a day for house
cleaning and general preparation for the New Year. In the evening
it is traditional for Thais to dress up as a signal of the coming
new year.
In Chiangmai, the Songkran procession is held
on this day. This is a parade through Chiangmai comprised of Buddha
images and attendants on floats, which are accompanied by minstrels
and the town's people. The procession begins at Nawarat Bridge on
the Mae Ping River and moves the Thapae Gate before approaching
its final destination of Wat Prasingh.
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| April 13 |
is Wan Nao. On this day people prepare cooked
meals and preserved food for the Buddhist merit-making that takes
place on the following day.
Activities at Wat Prasingh continue on this day
and in the evening local residents go to the banks of the Mae Ping
River and gather sand to be deposited in piles topped by flowers
in the temples. This practice is the ancient "raising the temple
grounds" ritual which was necessary in the old days because then
Thai New Year was held at the end of the rainy season in the first
month of the old Thai Lunar Calendar.
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| April 14 |
is Wan Payawan. On this day a grand new year begins
with early morning merit-making at the temples. Preserved and cooked
foods, fresh fruit, monks' robes and other offerings are made at the
temples. In the home, people do the final cleaning of Buddha images
using scented water.
Traditionally this is the day that the pouring
of water begins. It was once the practice to pour gently, but the
fun-loving Thais have transposed this into a relative water free-for-all.
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| April 15 |
is Wan Parg-bpee. On this day homage is paid to
ancestors, elders and other persons deserving respect because of age
of position. This is called 'Rohd Nam Songkran', meaning 'The Pouring
of Songkran Water', and the water is sprinkled on the elder persons
while uttering wishes of good luck and a happy future.
In Chiangmai, this is the final day of the celebration
and the day on which people have built up to a crescendo of water
throwing. It is the day when all family and religious obligations
have been completed and the people are totally dedicated to "Sanook...Sanook."
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