Joyful Songkran: an experience from Nongkhai to ChaingMai
One of the most recommended ways to experience the ultimately hot weather in Thailand during this month of April is to join the Songkran Festival of water. However, in order to get the real atmosphere of this event, let us take you back to the legend of this Songkran Festival. lt is believed that Songkran is the duration of the one-year turning of the world around the sun, which will take place during the 13'h to 15'n of April every year. This period is the beginning of the new year and thus it is called 'Songkran'.
When approaching the Songkran Festival, the activities that most family members will perform will be cleaning their houses, paying merit, water pouring on the Buddha lmages, Buddhist monks, and paying respect to the elders of the family, and finally, bringing sand into the temple. The highlight of the activities will feature the mosr entertaining period of Songkran water throwing because it is the most popular festival among the Thais in this kind of hot weather. Youngsters and teenagers will throw Songkran water to each other to relief the high temperature. In the old days, the tradition had been practiced by throwing water from a small bowl with nice odor of jasmine or other flowers onto the bodies. Nowadays, this beautiful tradition has been transformed into the throwing of water from bigger bowl or spraying of water from injectors.
Songkran Festival is traditionally different in each part of Thailand. One of the most popular events will take place in the North, especially in Chiang Mai-the center of arts, culture, tradition, and tourism. The northern people consider Songkran festival as the most outstanding festival of the year. When approaching the time of this festival, the northern people from everywhere will return home which is very similar to the 'Home Coming Day' during Christmas. This unique opportunity will allow all family members to meet together and pay merit and experience the joyful Songkran festival of water throwing.
At present, people of Chiang Mai, the city on the Ping River, still preserve and perform a variety of activities during Songkran festival. On the 13'h of April, which is called Maha Songkran Day, there will be a most spectacular procession of Phra Putha Sihing- the important Buddha lmage from Wat Phra Sing Wora Maha Wiharn- along the streets in the city, together with the other important Buddha lmages from various temples in Chiang Mai. Buddhists who join this festival will have the opportunity to pour water onto the Buddha images to request for the prosperity of their lives, and the event will be followed by the throwing of water onto each other. Furthermore, on the 14'n of April or 'Wan Nao' will be the day of carrying sand into the temple, together with the most heavy water throwing. 'Wan Thalerng Suek' or April 15'n, is another important day because of the procession of people from communities to town to pour water with respect to 'Chao Mueang' or the provincial governor according to the ancient tradition. And as usual, the event will also end up with throwing of water.
On the other hand, even though the northeastern regron does not recognize the importance of Songkran festival when compared to another festival of 'Ngan Bun Duean Hok' or 'Ngan Bun Bang Fai', the town of Nong Khai considers that the Songkran Festival or Ngan Bun Duean Ha is very much suitable for this town which is located on the Khong River. Nong Khai has been ranked by foreigners in the seventh place as the World Most Favourite city. However, during the low tide period, the Khong River will offer a sight of large white beach which is so dried up that you can almost walk to Laos.
On Songkran Day, April 13th, the people in Nong Khai will carry 'Phra Sai' the sacred Buddha lmage along town for people to pay respect and pour water. Following that event will be the carrying of sand from the river bank to the temple. Finally, the highlight of the festival is focused on the throwing of water in Khong River at Chom Manee Beach or, the so called ' Little Pattaya' of the northeastern region.
To once again emphasize our earlier recommendations of joining the Songkran Festival of water during this kind of hot weather in Thailand, we would like to suggest all visitors to consider visiting the town nearby Ping River of Chiang Mai and the town nearby Khong.River of Nong Khai. Experiences gained from these two cities will definitely ensure a mosl memorable impressions and enjoyments of visiting Thailand during our most reputed festival of the Songkran festival.
