WHAT IS SONGKRAN? WHY IT IS CELEBRATED IN THAILAND?

 

THE SONGKRAN FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED IN THAILAND. ACCORDING TO THAI PEOPLE, SONGKRAN IS KNOWN AS THE THAI NEW YEAR. THIS JOYFUL FESTIVAL CELEBRATED IN THAILAND AND PARTS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA. WHICH IS CELEBRATED FOR SEVERAL DAYS IN APRIL FROM 13 APRIL TO 15 APRIL EVERY YEAR. TRADITIONALLY THAI CALENDER STARTS FROM THIS DAY AND IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN BUDDHIST CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS. SONGKRAN IS THE CELEBRATION WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR FAMILY REUNION, COMMUNITY BONDING AND SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS.

HISTORY OF SONGKRAN

 

SONGKRAN IS TRACED FROM ANCIENT HINDU TRADITIONS IN INDIA, WHERE IT WAS CELEBRATED AS HARVESTING FESTIVAL. WHEN BUDDHISM SPREAD TO SOUTHEAST ASIA, THIS FESTIVAL ALSO EVOLVED TO INCORPORATE BUDDHIST RITUALS AND BELIEFS. SONGKRAN IS DERIVED FROM SANSKRIT WORK “SANKRANTI” MEANING “ASTROLOGICAL PASSAGE”, IT MEANS THE SUN MOVES INTO THE ZODIAC SIGN OF ARIES. THIS EVENT SYMBOLIZES RENEWAL, NEW BEGINNING, AND THE CYCLE OF LIFE.

 

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF SONGKRAN

SONGKRAN IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH WATER, AS WATER PLAYS VERY VITAL ROLE IN THIS FESTIVAL. WATER REPRESENTS CLEANSING, PROSPERITY, AND THE WASHING OF PAST SINS AND BAD LUCK. SONGKRAN HOLDS PROFOUND CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE THAI PEOPLE. THIS FESTIVAL PURIFIES AND RENEWS US BOTH SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY. HOUSES ARE ALSO CLEANED AND BUDDHA IMAGES ARE ALSO CLEANED WITH SCENTED WATER, PEOPLE GOES TO TEMPLES TO HONOUR THEIR ANCESTORS AND TAKE BLESSINGS OF THEM FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.

 

MODERN WAY OF CELEBRATING SONGKRAN

NOW IN MOST PLACES IN THAILAND, THIS FESTIVAL IS CELEBRATED AS WATER FIGHTS AND STREET PARTIES, THIS FESTIVAL IS KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR EPIC WATER BATTLES, WHERE LOCALS AND TOURISTS ALSO PLAY WITH WATER GUNS AND THROW WATER ON EACH OTHER IN A VERY GOOD MANNER.  WATER SYMBOLIZE PURIFICATION AND THE WASHING AWAY OF NEGATIVITY. THIS FESTIVAL ALSO ENCOURAGES OUTSIDERS AND FOREIGN FAMILIES TO COME HERE AND ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES.

 

MEETING WITH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY IN SONGKRAN

SONGKRAN IS THE TIME WHEN THEY MEET THEIR PARENT AND GRANDPARENTS LIKE HAVING A FAMILY REUNION SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE THE BLESSING OF THEIR OLDER ONES FOR THE AHEAD JOURNEY OF THIS YEAR. THEY HAPPILY SIT WITH THEIR PARENTS, EAT FOOD, AND TAKE TEACHINGS FROM THEM ON HOW TO SUCCEED IN THEIR LIFE. HOW TO IMPROVE THINGS AND HAVE BETTER DAYS AHEAD. SONGKRAN FESTIVAL ALSO MAKE THEIR RELATION STRONGER WITH THEIR COMMUNITY. THIS FESTIVAL INCREASES UNITY AND RELATIONS AMONG THAI PEOPLE.

 

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SONGKRAN

SONGKRAN IS NOT ONLY A FESTIVAL IN THAILAND. THIS ALSO ATTRACTS TOURISTS LIKE MAGNET. TOURISTS ALSO WANT TO BE PART OF THIS FESTIVAL AS IT IS RELATED TO THE CLEANSING OF PAST SINS. SONGKRAN ALSO BOOSTS TOURISM. LIKE WE TALKED  EARLIER THAT NOW IN MODERN TIMES THIS FESTIVAL IS PLAYED WITH WATER GUNS AND BUCKET WATER THROW. THIS ALSO CREATES PARTY SITUATION FOR THEM. WHICH NOW HAS BECOME VERY FAMOUS WORLDWIDE. NOW TOURISTS ARE GATHERED HERE FROM AROUND THE GLOBE TO BE PART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL FESTIVAL. WHICH IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THAILAND’S TOURISM ECONOMY.

LASTLY

SONGKRAN IS NOT JUST ANY FESTIVAL. IT IS A BIG CELEBRATION OF TRADITION, STARTING FRESH, AND BEING TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY. IT ALL COMES FROM OLD WAYS OF DOING THINGS AND WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVED IN A LONG TIME AGO. NOW,  IT IS TURNED INTO A BIG PARTY WITH LOTS OF WATER FUN MIXED WITH SPIRITUAL STUFFING. THERE ARE SERIOUS CEREMONIES AT TEMPLES, BUT ALSO FUN WATER FIGHTS IN THE STREETS. SONGKRAN REALLY SHOWS OFF WHAT THAI CULTURE IS ALL ABOUT AND BRINGS EVERYONE TOGETHER TO HAVE A GOOD TIME, FEEL FRESH, AND BE UNITED.

 

SO THE DAYS ARE NEAR. GO BOOK YOUR TICKETS TO THAILAND FROM WHEREVER YOU READING THIS AND BECOME PART OF THIS BEAUTIFUL FESTIVAL. ENJOY