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Songkran The word “Songkran” itself, as legend has it, comes from Sanskrit, mean<strong>in</strong>g transformation or the chang<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the zodiac sign. The festival always falls on April 13th through the 15th, co<strong>in</strong>cid<strong>in</strong>g with the ris<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> Aries <strong>in</strong> the Zodiac chart. Songkran has been celebrated s<strong>in</strong>ce the Sukho<strong>thai</strong> k<strong>in</strong>gdom (1238-1438), and carried on throughout 400 years <strong>of</strong> the Ayutthaya k<strong>in</strong>gdom (1351-1767), right up to the Rattanakos<strong>in</strong> era or present day Thailand. Right Now the ‘big guns’ come out <strong>in</strong> megawater battles. Below Water fights <strong>in</strong> the past used water from a nearby river or canal. The first day <strong>of</strong> Songkran, April 13, is called “Wan Maha Songkran,” when the sun is about to leave Pisces <strong>in</strong>to Aries. Usually, people clean up their homes and prepare for the new year merit-mak<strong>in</strong>g. On the second day <strong>of</strong> Songkran, or “Wan Nao,” the sun approaches Aries – and completely leaves Pisces beh<strong>in</strong>d. S<strong>in</strong>ce it’s neither <strong>in</strong> the old or new year, but somewhere <strong>in</strong> between, people use polite words and hope for the best <strong>in</strong> the year to come. Many people go to the temple, with food and buckets <strong>of</strong> sand for the religious ceremony. The New Year beg<strong>in</strong>s on the third day “Wan Tha Rerk Suk,” s<strong>in</strong>ce the sun has completely moved <strong>in</strong>to Aries. Traditionally, the Buddhist temple would become the centre stage for the Songkran celebration. The classic Thai poem “Khun Chang Khun Phaen” portrays a love triangle dur<strong>in</strong>g the Ayutthaya period, when the Songkran festival saw celebration for three days at a local temple. Local folks would gather at the Wat Pa Lelai monastery, as the poem goes, to <strong>of</strong>fer food to the monks. People build sand pagodas as a way <strong>of</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g merit, along with free<strong>in</strong>g birds from cages. It is here, at the temple dur<strong>in</strong>g the Songkran ceremony, that the dash<strong>in</strong>g but poor novice monk Phaen meets beautiful Wanthong. Enter another suitor, Chang (unattractive but rich) who gets <strong>in</strong>volved. They pour perfumed water <strong>in</strong>to the hands <strong>of</strong> the elders to show respect and seek their New Year bless<strong>in</strong>g. Then, young people throw buckets <strong>of</strong> water to each other for fun and to keep cool <strong>in</strong> the April heat. As time went by, Songkran began to be a more visible and active event. In Chiang Mai <strong>in</strong> 1922, the city promoted Songkran to boost domestic tourism. From Bangkok, visitors took an overnight tra<strong>in</strong> to Chiang Mai for the holiday. The very first tourist group to Chiang Mai visited the city’s landmarks, such as Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep before bath<strong>in</strong>g the S<strong>in</strong>gh Buddha image and throw<strong>in</strong>g water amongst the locals. By the 1950s the city, led by its elite members such as Kraisri Nimmandhem<strong>in</strong>da, re<strong>in</strong>vented Songkran Festival for tourism. In order to showcase Lanna culture and capture the festive mood <strong>of</strong> Songkran, Chiang Mai developed a procession <strong>of</strong> Buddha images and cultural floats. As the procession roamed around the old city <strong>of</strong> Chiang Mai, local people put up altars <strong>in</strong> front <strong>of</strong> their homes as a way to pay their respects to the Buddha. The addition <strong>of</strong> the beauty contest “Miss Songkran” added more colour to the festival, so did a series <strong>of</strong> Lanna cultural shows. By the 1980s, Chiang Mai attracted the first foreign tourists for the Songkran holiday follow<strong>in</strong>g the successful domestic tourism campaign. Phra S<strong>in</strong>gh, Chiang Mai’s most sacred Buddha image, left the temple for the first time to jo<strong>in</strong> the Songkran procession. Many more temples created their own floats and jo<strong>in</strong>ed grander processions. A parade <strong>of</strong> beautiful women rid<strong>in</strong>g bicycles and hold<strong>in</strong>g parasols became “poster girls.” The Tourism Authority <strong>of</strong> Thailand (TAT) jo<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> organis<strong>in</strong>g splendid cultural shows at Tha Phae Gate. From its beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> the temple grounds, Songkran moved Where to Get Wet <strong>in</strong> Thailand? Two <strong>of</strong> the most popular Songkran dest<strong>in</strong>ations <strong>in</strong> Thailand are Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Silom Road In the capital, the bus<strong>in</strong>ess district <strong>of</strong> Silom hosts the largest and wildest crowd <strong>of</strong> revellers <strong>in</strong> Bangkok. The water deluge stretches about 5 km. To stay dry stay on the BTS skywalk to observe the huge crowds <strong>in</strong> their water splash<strong>in</strong>g fun and smatter<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> scented powder. Khao San Road It’s Songkran and more – mean<strong>in</strong>g th<strong>in</strong>gs can get wilder along the bars and restaurants <strong>of</strong> Khao San Road <strong>in</strong> Bangkok. Police checkpo<strong>in</strong>ts make sure <strong>in</strong>ebriated and overly enthusiastic participants don’t get out <strong>of</strong> hand. Chiang Mai The entire city celebrates Songkran. Around Tha Phae Gate (Chiang Mai Gate,) beware <strong>of</strong> water ambushes. The most popular places for water play take place around the moat, canals and around the P<strong>in</strong>g River. 34 35