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Asian Culture

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Followed to this, families go to the banks of the<br />

rivers to lift sand pagodas decorated with<br />

flowers, this is done with the aim of atoning<br />

guilts and attract good luck for the coming year.<br />

For the second day, there are offering<br />

ceremonies in the Buddhist temples of each city,<br />

in addition, water battles take place this day,<br />

where both tourists and natives unite to throw<br />

water to each other, as purification and<br />

cleanliness of the spirit. Originally the Songkran<br />

was not as festive as it is today, previously the<br />

water was used only to wet the most revered<br />

statues of the Buddha, because it was believed<br />

that this water had beneficial and curative<br />

properties.<br />

In many parts of the country the<br />

celebrations of the Songkran<br />

ends on April 15th, however, in<br />

certain towns and cities these<br />

festivities extend until one<br />

week. This day is called the day<br />

of Wan Parg-bpee, and honors<br />

are rendered to all ancestors<br />

and to the oldest people. Water<br />

is usually spilled over older<br />

people as they ask for good luck<br />

for the next year. This<br />

ceremony is known as the Rohd<br />

Nam Songkran.<br />

18

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