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Songkran
Thailand’s Splish Splash Festival 101
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ne of the hottest and driest times of the year in Thailand is typically from March to June. April is supposedly the warmest month of summer which marks the 13th every year as Songkran or Thai New Year’s national holiday until the 15th. The festival has long been celebrated nationwide by Thais and foreigners residing in the country or visiting for vacation. While some traditions are still preserved, it’s fair to say that new practices have reinterpreted the initial meaning and purpose of Songkran. History & Origin Since the Ayutthaya period, the original purpose of Songkran has been to celebrate the Thai New Year. The celebration changed in 1940 when the New Year date 20 | MAR /APR 2020
was officially shifted to 1 January. The traditional Thai New Year is celebrated as holidays since. The word ‘Songkran’ comes from the Sanskrit word ‘sam . krānti,’ meaning movement, indicating the motion of the sun passing from one zodiac to another. For this reason, Songkran occurs every month in Sanskrit definition. In the Thai context, the Maha Songkran period signifies the motion of the sun turning from Pisces to Aries as the beginning of a new year according to the Indian solar calendar. There are also beliefs that Songkran activities might be influenced by Holi festivities in India where people throw coloured powder at one another. Locations The four main regions in Thailand
keep a variety of traditions during Songkran, some are different and others share similarities. In the north, people organise Buddha statue parades. Guns are shot and firecrackers are lit up to expel evil spirits and negativities. The locals also clean their houses and cleanse their bodies. No bad words shall be uttered and no arguments or fights shall take place. In the central part of the country, people gather at homes to feast on Khao Chae or rice soaked in cold water paired with a number of specific side dishes adapted and modified from a Mon recipe. Some side dishes include Kapi balls, stuffed shallots, stuffed sweet peppers, stir-fried sweet pickled Chinese turnips with eggs, raw mango, fresh cucumber, wild ginger, chillies and spring onions. bangkok101.com
