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Songkran - The
Traditional Thai New Tear |
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Songkran is the first day of the Thai New Year and is a
tradition that has been carried out continuously since ancient
times. It is also a beautiful, national culture that is buried
deeply in the lives and minds of Thais. It is a
very old tradition in Thailand that has been passed down
hand in hand with the New Year celebrations. So, it is known as
'Songkran New Year', which means the passing of the Old Year and
the welcoming of the New Year. The word droot is a Tamil word
that is used in Thai and which means 'end of the year'. The word
Songkran is a Sanskrit word that is used in Thai and which means
the 'movement' or 'relocation' of the sun from one sign of
the zodiac to another, and Songkran is the period of time that
the sun moves from Pisces to Aries. This is held
to be an important event because it is the day and time
of the New Year in the beliefs of Thai people. Thai people have
called this period of time Songkran for a long time now, and so
Songkran is a tradition for
celebrating the New Year according to the Thai calendar.
Generally, the celebration takes placeover a period of three
days from the 13th - 15th April. The 13th April is called Wan
Maha Songkran, and it is held to be the day that the sun enters
Aries and is the last day of the Old Year. The 14th April is
called Wan Nao, and is the day
that connects the Old Year to the New Year. The 15th April
called Wan Ta-leung Sok and is the first day of the
New Year. These three days are held to be very important
because the traditional celebration of Songkran
reflects the intellect of our ancestors. It is a
tradition that strengthens relationships in families and society,
and it can be said that Thais have a 'family day' or 'elders day'
too. |
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Songkran in the Four Regions
In Thailand,
Songkran is considered to be a religious ceremony of great
importance that has the same meaning for everyone and takes
place in every region. |
Songkran in the North (Songkran Laan Na) begins on the 13th
April (Wan Sang Kaan Long). It is a day when people spring
clean their homes for good luck and prosperity. The 14th April
(Wan Nao) is a day when people are forbidden to exchange abuses
or argue because it will bring bad luck for the entire year to
come. The 15th April (Wan Payaa Wan or Wan Ta-leung Sok)
is a day when people get up very early and give alms to the
monks, and then go to the temple to listen to a sermon before
calling on elders to receive blessings in the afternoon. On the
16th April, people travel to various temples to receive
blessings from the abbot. The 17th April (Wan Paak Deuan) is a
day when people help others in various ways in order to close
the Laan Na celebrations.
Songkran in Isaan (the
Northeast) is normally a very simple affair but is full of
warmth and meaning, with Isaan people calling the tradition 'The
Fifth Month Religious Ceremony' or Droot Songkran. (Note: The
first month in the traditional Thai calendar is December ;
therefore, April is the fifth month.) The 15th day of the
waxing moon in the fifth month is held to be an auspicious day,
and at 3 p.m., monks beat drums to usher in the new era. After
that, folks prepare scented water and then gather together at a
pavilion at the temple to pour water over a Buddha image,
followed by visiting their grandmothers and grandfathers,
relatives and other elders in order to receive their blessings.
This is followed by the playful soaking of each other with water
which is
a time of much merriment.
Songkran in the South follows
the traditions of the South and it is a period of time when
fortunes must change. The people hold the first day of Songkran,
13th April, as Wan Song Chao Muang Kao by holding a
ceremony in which evil spirits are removed by the sprinkling of
holy water on the heads of the people. On the 14th April, the
citizens will make merit by giving alms at the temple, and
pouring water over Buddha images. The last day, April 15th, is
known as Wan Rap Chao Muang Mai, and a ceremony is held to
welcome the new divinity by decorating Buddha images very
beautifully, thus concluding the Songkran celebrations.
Songkran in central
Thailand begins on the 13th April and is called Wan Maha
Songkran. The 14th is called Wan Klaang or Wan Nao, and
the 15th is called Wan Ta-leung Sok. During all three days,
people hold religious ceremonies, there are various merit making
activities like giving alms, freeing birds and fish from
captivity into the wild, pouring water onto the ground to
dedicate merit to relatives who have passed away, pouring water
over the hands of monks, and transporting sand to the temple to
build a sand pagoda. |
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General Activities on Songkran Day.
In general, the activity that takes place in every
region of Thailand is the giving of alms to monks in the
morning. This is held to be a creation of merit for oneself, and
a dedication of merit to those who have already passed away, and
is carried out by the giving of food to monks in the early
morning. Water is poured over Buddha images at home and at the
temple, and may be poured on monk's hands too. Apart from this,
people pour water over the hands or heads of elders while
receiving blessings from them, kaan dam hua is a northern Thai
phrase and is used only when referring to the pouring of water
on and receiving of blessings from elders that we respect
and is a way of asking for forgiveness for our past offences, or
a way of asking for New Year blessings from elders. Articles
used in this tradition include bath towels, coconuts, bananas
and oranges. The pouring of water and requesting blessings
from elders is a way of blessing the New Year for each other,
and is carried out with elders that we respect, teachers, etc.
We kneel in front of the person and pour scented holy water over
their hands and they give us blessings in return. In another
religious ceremony, we might take the ashes and bones of a
deceased relative and shape them into a pagoda. Following that,
a monk is invited to perform a ceremony using a yellow robe
which covers the "pagoda" and is then removed by the monk during
the ceremony. The release of birds or fish from captivity is
held to be a way of cleansing ourselves of our past sins
and getting rid of bad luck, leaving just happiness and comfort.
On New Yearûs Day, we build a sand pagoda or transport sand to
the temple. In the North, it is a popular activity to take sand
to the temple to acquire good luck, be happy and prosperous, and
General Activities on Songkran Day have money aplenty. |
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Songkran in Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani Province holds traditional Songkran
ceremonies every April, and emphasises the Songkran water
festival in accordance with the beautiful customs and traditions
of Thailand, meaning that colouring and powder should not
be used in order to preserve the culture and promote the Thai
tradition in perpetuity.
This year, 2552 B.E., the offices of Ubon
Ratchathani Province and Ubon Ratchathani Municipality together
with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani office
and the Association of Tourist Businesses, Ubon
Ratchathani have arranged Songkran celebrations and activities
between the 11th and 17th of April 2009 in the roads surrounding
the central park, Tung Sri Muang, as well as in the municipality
of Ubon Ratchathani. There will be many interesting
activities, such as the worship ceremony, the bathing of
monuments, for example Phraphatum Warrarach Suriyawong (the
first governor of Ubon Ratchathani), Phra Upali Khunuphamajarn
(a famous abbot), Somdet Phra Maha Wirawong (a famous monk), the
monument at the Central Court, blessings given by the
governor of Ubon Ratchathani and respected elders, the giving of
alms to 99 monks, the Indo-Chinese food festival, the Songkran
water ùfightsû, the roadside flowers and waterways, the
Songkran Parade, the parade of the Phra Kaew Bussarakam Buddha
image around the town in order that the general public have the
opportunity to bathe the image on this auspicious occasion, the
Songkran Beauty Queen Pageant, cultural roads, a singing
competitions, and local arts and culture displays. In various
other districts there will be many Songkran activities, each
varying according to place. |
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In addition to the above, there will be a special tourism
project administered by Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ubon
Ratchathani office together with the Office of Religious
Affairs, Ubon Ratchathani and the Tourist Police Office, Ubon
Ratchathani who have established a special tourism programme
related to religion in Ubon Ratchathani called 'Visit Nine
Temples by Sam Lor for Luck and Prosperity'. This will take
place on Songkran Day, the 13th March this year. The purpose of
the programme is to increase awareness of tourism related to
religion and the traditional Thai New Year as well as to promote
Songkran and the Thai-Indochina Food Festival. The tour will
start from the grounds of Wat Sri Ubon Rattanaram at 1 p.m. and
will consist of a procession of 30 Sam Lor (tricycle) that
will lead those who are interested in taking part on a journey
to nine temples in the Ubon Ratchathani municipality and will
include the traditional hand-bathing ceremony of Songkran at the
following temples : Phra Chao Yai Sri Muang, Wat Tung Sri Muang;
Phra Kaew Komen, Wat Pa Noi; Phra Chao Yai In Plaeng, Wat Pa Yai;
Phra Burapajarn, Wat Burapa; Phra Chao Yai Ong Der, Wat Tai;
Phra Bot, Wat Klaang; Phra Chao Yai Ong Luang, Wat Luang;
Phra Sap Pan Yu Chao, Wat Suphatanaram; and finally
returning to Phra Kaew Bussarakam, Wat Sri Ubon Rattanaram.
Those who are interested can obtain further details and reserve
seats at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ubon Ratchathani
office telephone 045-243770, or the Office of Religious Affairs.
Telephone 045-241027.
If you have yet to make plans for Songkran, we would like
to take the opportunity to invite everyone to take part in the
traditional Songkran celebrations in Ubon Ratchathani. The heart
of Songkran is finding peace of mind through making merit and
religion, cleaning up the environment, showing gratefulness to
elders, and showing good wishes and favours to each other. if
you intend to take part in the water ùfightsû for your fun and
enjoyment, you should consider your safety first as many
unfortunate accidents occur every year. Therefore,
everyone should join in and have
fun, but do so with carefulness in mind, continuing the
wonderful customs and traditions of
Songkran which are the high values of the core of the tradition,
and good, responsible behaviour according to the Songkran
tradition which is related to the spirit of being a good Thai.
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Article By : Ajarn
Worralak On-na-nai |
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Head of the Department of
Arts & Culture Ubon Ratchathani
Rajabhat University |
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