S o n g k r a n
Water mayhem ushers in the traditional
Thai New Year in mid-April. It is a time of
cleansing, renewal and loading up pick-up
trucks with beds armed with super soakers
to douse other water warriors.
Thailand’s most famous festival
didn’t start out as a water war. Once
upon a time it was a quiet festival of
house cleaning, resolutions and temple
festivities. Traditionally the temple’s
primary Buddha was ceremoniously
bathed, often by being paraded about as
the faithful dutifully splashed water on it.
In fact water ‘splashing’ (not ‘shooting’)
is a common component of New Year’s
festivals throughout Southeast Asia and
even parts of China. Afterwards water
might be sprinkled on the hands of elderly
family members or playfully splashed on
friends as a way of wishing them luck.
The cleansing powers of water also offers
refreshment during the hottest time of the
year.
It isn’t hard to imagine how the
splashing water custom would eventually
evolve into a throwing, launching and
soaking wet party. Luck is said to be
measured by how doused (not soused or
drunk) you are and so those roving water-
hurling bands are just wishing you a whole
lot of luck in the year to come.
TOP SONGKRAN SPOTS» Bangkok (p 104 ) Head to Th Khao San
for serious water battles.
» Chiang Mai (p 258 ) Line up along the
moat to splash and be splashed.
» Ayuthaya (p 165 ) and Sukhothai Tame
and traditional versions for Songkran
purists.RICHARD I’ANSON/LONELY PLANET IMAGES ©Clockwise from top lef t
- Having fun, Bangkok 2. Hill-tribe girls at a Songkran
ceremony, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai - Incense and candle offerings during Songkran
celebrations at Sanam Luang, Bangkok