Whether they are held in reverence to religious beliefs and cultural importance or for plain entertainment, the festivals of Thailand are beyond doubt unique and extraordinary. The most expected of such events, The Songkran Festival, is one that includes a composition of both tradition and fun.
Every 13th of April, the citizen of Thailand celebrate the Songkran Festival. Songkran, which is of Sanskrit origins meaning the starting of the solar year, is the Thai's primary New Year. The event can last between 3 to 10 days, depending on varying areas in the country.
Songkran Samui
During the Songkran Festival, it has been primary for families and friends to get and visit temples for prayer and offering. As an act of cleansing, the Thai citizen also cleanse Buddha images from household shrines and monasteries, pouring down water mixed with Thai fragrance on them. It is believed that doing this will bring them good luck. In some cities, Buddha images are also paraded on the streets where locals can shower them with water.
In addition, young citizen pour scented water into the hands of the elders and parents as a sign of respect. This is done by taking the water after it has been poured over the Buddha images for cleansing. The water is then poured on the shoulders of the elders and family, symbolizing good fortune being showered upon them.
In most recent times, the celebration of water is more for merriment and entertainment rather than spiritual or religious in nature. The citizen have fun carrying water guns and buckets of water to the streets, spraying and splashing anything in their path. No one is exempt and given the fact that April is Thailand's hottest month of the year, the caress can be quite refreshing.
Of course, the festivities are not miniature to the locals alone. Indeed, scores of tourists flock to Thailand to caress this overwhelming event. Many Phuket hotels welcome the festival with their own primary Songkran ceremony while some offer extra hotel packages to accommodate tourists.
The Songkran Festival: an additional one suspect to Visit Thailand
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