April

is Songkran Festival

The first of January considered the official New Year's Day, but Thais still celebrate"Songkran Day" with much festivity. I am writing to tell you why this is so.

Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year which falls from 13-15 April,the hottest month of a year. It is an occasion for joy and family reunion like Christmas in your country. It is celebrated with religious ceremonies and public festivities in Bangkok and other parts of the country.

The word "Songkran"is derived from the Pali language of the Buddhist scriptures.In Pali the word"Sankhara" or "Sankranti"in Sanskrit,refers to the movement of the sun from one sing of the Zodiac to another;here from Aries to Taurus.The word changed to Songkran in Thai,and later to Songgran or Songkran.(Goson Bhadungzong 1999:40)

Songkran is a celebration that has found its way from india through Burna into Chiang mai and then to the rest of Thailand. According to the legend,Tao Kabilaprom,a four-faced Brahman god,made a bet with a young man named Dhammabalakumara, who was well versed in all the secrets of the universe.Whoever lost had to cut off his head. The god's question was "Where was the aura of a man in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening?". Dhammabalakumara had to give the correct answer within 7days. Six days passed but Dhammabalakumara could not find any answer.He was worried and ran away info the forest lying down under alarge tree in which a couple of eagles lived.They talked about the question. The male eagle said that it was a very simple question. The answer was that the aura of a man in the morning was on the face because one had to wash one’s face every morning. In the affernoon , the aura would be on the body or chest, since one had to take a bath and dad some powder on the chest, And in the evening, it would be on the feet because one had to wash one’s feet before going to bed. Whoever could act this way would be admired and said to be in possession of a certain aura. Dhammabalakumara listened to the answer and rushed off immediately to see tao kabilaprom . The god lost the bet. He kept his word and cut off his own head. But his head was very sacred and powerful. There was nowhere to place it. If it fell down on the ground, fire would cover the whole world. If it fell down in the water, the water in the seas and oceans would dry up. If it was left in the air, there would be no rain, and the world would face serious drought . Therefore,before he cut off his head, tao Kabilaprom ordered his seven daughters, who were angels and them became Songkran goddesses, to bring a large tray on which to lay his head and keep it on Mount Krailas, where the God Siva lived. His seven daughters would then take turns to hold the tray of their father’s head parading around Mount Krailas once a year on April 13.

Various activities at Songkran are as follows:

- Cleaning of living places, nearby compounds in the community and Buddhist temples

- Offering food to monks in the morning

- Making merit by setting free fish and birds

- Listening to sermons and practicing the five precepts

- Bathing the Buddha image with scented perfume floating with jasmine and roses

- Building of sand pagodas decorated with colorful flags and flowers to worship Lord Buddha, or for construction purpose and other public works.

- Making merit for dead ancestors

- Wearing new clothes to pay respect to elders

- Pouring water on elders’hands using clean water mixed with perfume

- Splashing water on each other fun with clean water in polite manner

- Celebrating the festival with various local entertainments

- Holding a Songkran Beauty Queen Contest and procession

In Bangkok, merit making is organized at Sanam Luang to offer food to monks. Coged birds and fish are set free. A Pra Buddha Sihing image is put in place for people to sprinkle water on. On Visuthkasat Road, there is a Songkran Beauty Queen Contest using Thai national costumes. Meanwhile, on khao Sarn Road both Thais and foreigners enjoy splashing water on each other, so this festival is known among foreigners as “ The Water Festival “ . Anyone who goes out on the street is likely to get a thorough soaking. People belleve that water will wash away bad luck, and splashing water over friends or anyone will give them a New Year blessing. When the young pour scented water on their elder’s hands, they in return, wish them good health, happiness and prosperity.Aprit 14 is called “ Family Day “.

In Chiang Mai, the festival stretches over four days. Each day has a different focus and activities.

On April 13 (Wan Songkhan Long) in the early morning, firecrackers are set off to drive away bad luck from the previous year. People clean their houses, especially the attar, then bathe, wash their hair and wear new clothes prepared for the New Year festival. The Songkran parade consisting of Buddha image, representative groups from the various districts of Chiang Mai and musicians dressed in Lanna style moves through the streets. Then they splash water on each other.

April 14 (Wan Nao) is a day for good deeds, making merit at temples and being kid to people. People offer food to monks. They also go down to the Ping River to collect buckets of sand which is used to build sand pagodas decorated with cut paper, flags and flowers in the temple compound and to raise the level of the temple courtyard.

April 15 (Wan Payawan) is the first day of the New Year and people gather at the temple in the early morning to offer food, new robes and other necessities to monks. Then they release fish and birds and bathe the Buddha image.

April 16 (Wan Pak pee), people pay respect to their ancestors. Elders or high-ranking government officials asking them for forgiveness for bad deeds. There is Rod Nam Dam Hua procession headed by a traditional dance group to pour lustral water on the elders’hands and offer them gifts such as Mor-hom and Pah-Khao-mah. The elders then bless the young people for the coming New Year. There is also Dam Hua Khu-a ceremony to bathe stupas that contain ancestor ashes.

Songkran Phra Pradaeng in Samut Prakarn which was originally called “ Songkran Pak Lat “ is similar to other traditional Songkran festivals. One difference is the date of celebration-instead of holding the festival on April 13, it is held on the fallowing Sunday. Another difference is that it is still maintains several ancient traditions of the Thai-Raman people.

There are 10-20 processions every year. Every procession includes a Songkran floral float with the Miss Songkran of the year carrying the symbols of Songkran and other ongels. There is also another procession of beautiful women dressed in traditional Thai-Raman costumes. They carry jars of fish and cages of birds. The Ramon men walking beside the Songkran float wear Sarongs, round-collared shirts with Sabai around their necks; this is called “ Loi Chai “ costume. Their duties are to make sure that the procession runs smoothly. A folk called “ Saba “ is also played.

Songkran Festival represent a day of caring, love and binding among the family, community and religious. Members of the family stay together and the young pour lustral water on their elders’hands asking for a blessing and showing their gratitude towards the elders. In addition, the activities have been developed to promote unity in the community such as offering food to monks, building sand pagodas, and splashing water on each other for fun.

จากหนังสือ...”เทศกาล งานประเพณีท้องถิ่น “ ระดับมัธยมศึกษา กรมวิชาการ กระทรวงศึกษาธิการ

เรียบเรียงโดย นางสาวนิธิ สตะเวทิน