Showing posts with label Water Festival. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Water Festival. Show all posts

Sunday 10 April 2022

The Story of Songkran - All about the Thai New Year

The Story of Songkran - All about the Thai New Year

Songkran, or the Thai New Year, is the the largest and most famous of Thailand’s many traditional festivals. Known for huge water fights and water blessing ceremonies, it’s been celebrated for centuries and is rich in culture and tradition. Every year, the celebrations begin on April 13 and normally last three days until the 15th of April.

The name was inherited from ancient Sanskrit, a language that dates back thousands of years. Songkran combines the words “Song” and “Krant” and refers to the sun beginning a new Zodiac sign. Songkran translates to “entering” and “stepping into.” It’s when the sun exits the sign of Pisces and enters the sign of Aries. “Songkran month” is the event that occurs every month. But according to astrology, when the sun reaches Aries again after 12 months have passed, it’s known as “Songkran year” and will be the solar New Year’s Day.

The festival is highly dependent on water, which symbolically washes away the previous year, allowing people to prepare for the new year. It’s also a time of family reunion, when relatives who have moved away return for the holiday to spend time with their loved ones. During the festival, various traditions are celebrated; but the one tradition it’s most famous for is water splashing. Thai locals and travellers alike drench each other with water using hoses, squirt guns and any other water carrying container.

Locals believe that water is purifying and cleansing: it washes away negativity and problems, and brings good fortune and happiness. According to tradition, the festival began with villagers collecting water that had been poured over Buddha statues for purification. This was then used to bless leaders and family members who were well respected by sprinkling it over their shoulders. A similar tradition continues today with the water blessing ceremony, in which people fill shells with purified water and pour it on the hands of their elders as a sign of blessing and respect.

Songkran is a festival in which family members gather to express gratitude, love and respect, as well as to make merit and pay respects to their ancestors. Giving food to monks is a way of gaining merit. Visiting temples and listening to Buddhist speeches are also both considered a blessing during Songkran. Thais go to temples to pray and bring food to the monks. Locals splash scented water on Buddha statues when visiting different places. Many people also like spreading positive vibes by releasing caged birds into the sky or fish into bodies of water. This occurs throughout the country.

The northern city of Chiang Mai hosts the largest Songkran celebrations, with some events reportedly lasting six days. The infamous Khao San Road is the obvious centre of activities during Bangkok’s modern Songkran festival. The atmosphere in the backpacker zone is electrifying.

In a normal, non-pandemic year, it’s hard to leave your accommodation, whether a hotel or a condo, without experiencing the water soaking chaos and any resistance will quickly fade. On the streets, you’ll find multiple generations getting in on the fun, including children, adults, the elderly and trucks full of teenagers blasting loud music.

Songkran is a national holiday in Thailand. It’s a time for locals who have relocated to other cities or towns to return home and spend time with their families. So if you’re travelling to Thailand during this time, it’s smart to plan ahead because public transportation tends to be packed and accommodations fully booked — at higher than normal prices.


Source - The Thaiger

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Sunday 1 April 2018

Pattaya City officials announce Songkran extended until April 30th, water play until 10PM

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Pattaya City Officials announced this week in a meeting at City Hall attended by both Banglamung district officials, police and the mayor that to encourage and boost tourism in the city the Songkran Festival for Pattaya will be extended from April 12th-April 19th to April 12th-April 30th. Additionally, historically the water wars stop at around sunset, however, to further boost tourism and drive the reputation of Pattaya as “The fun city” the water fighting will be permitted to continue until 10:00PM.

Pattaya City hall stated the following to The Pattaya News in a formal statement:
“We believe that by encouraging more tourists to come to Pattaya and driving the reputation of Pattaya as a world class “Fun City” on the level of Las Vegas and New Orleans in America we will boost overall tourism numbers by roughly 35% and bring an estimated further 700 million baht alone to the Pattaya economy. These funds we can utilize later in the year to provide better roads and complete the beach beautification project. Additionally, these funds can be used to assist in dealing with numerous waste management and trash related issues that have plagued the city for the past several months. It is a win-win for all involved.”
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https://12go.asia/?z=581915
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City officials further stated that they are planning several unique events this year for Pattaya City to further encourage “Fun”.  They have also confirmed that in coordination with the government Pattaya has an official exception for allowing water play on main and secondary roads.
The events outlined at the meeting for the now nearly month long festival include the following:
-City sponsored water soaking stations on all major roads, including the highway and in the dark side as the city wants to encourage expats to get into the spirt of Songkran.
-Water soaking stations, sponsored by the city and manned by volunteers and city officials in front of most major supermarket entrances, banks and hospitals to ensure that everyone, including those not in the party areas, enjoy the spirit of Songkran.
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-7-11 has stated that they will be participating in the month long festival as well by having a designated employee at the door soaking every person entering and leaving the store, regardless if they are dressed for the occasion as well in collaboration with City Hall.

-The city will have sponsored water wars on Soi 7 between different groups of tourists. Some planned events include French vs. German tourists, Americans vs. English, Indians vs. Arabs and Russia vs. China.

-Instead of the official flower shirt for the city the city officials are encouraging men to go shirtless and wear official flowered thongs. The thongs should be available at all markets midweek.

If the event is a success City officials have stated that they are looking at expanding Songkran even further, perhaps to a monthly week long event to boost tourism.

Oh…and Happy April Fools, folks.
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Source - ThePattayaNews


 


Thursday 13 April 2017

Thailand bans sexy dance moves, sexy clothes during Songkran holiday

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This Songkran, you may have to take it easy on the dance floor and opt for a turtleneck instead of a skimpy, smelly beer-logo tank top, because police will be out looking to arrest those with sexy dance moves and revealing clothing. 
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Songkran, aka the water festival, is becoming too sexy for the Thai police to handle. No more sexy girls dancing in the back of pickup trucks. No more sexy shirtless dudes in Silom. They will all be arrested. 
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The punishment for people who dance suggestively or wear suggestive clothing is a THB5,000 fine, about US$145. The news has been published all over local media. One of the reasons behind this campaign is simply to protect sexy people from crimes. Deputy Commissioner Pol. Maj. Gen. Sompong Chingduang even warned ladies not to “wear revealing clothes” or “be tempting because it will lead to sex crimes,” Daily News reported.
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So the logic here is, if there were no sexy girls, there would be no sexual assaults. Got it, sir.
It is not reported how police will define sexy dance moves. 
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Bangkok - Songkran: Six main roads closed for water fighting festivities

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Despite official announcements that Songkran is supposed to be less riotous this year due to the mourning period for the late king, six roads will still be closed off for more restrained water-fighting celebrations. 
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The other surprising directive that has been announced for this year’s celebrations is that it has to be less sexy, with both sexy dance moves and sexy clothes being banned although how they are going to define sexiness and enforce a ban on it remains to be seen. 
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Let’s see how toned down the shenanigans are on the roads that have been designated for celebrating: Khaosan, Chakkra Phong, Bowonniwet, Sib Sam Hang, Tanao, and Silom.
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The Royal Gazette announced yesterday that those roads will be closed to all vehicles from noon until midnight on April 13-15. Khaosan, one of the major water fighting destinations for both Thais and foreigners, will also close today from noon until midnight for water fighting.
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The temporary regulations also ban pickup trucks from carrying water tanks and partiers and any vehicle that plays very loud music from April 13-15.
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Saturday 16 April 2016

Thursday 10 April 2014

#SONGKRAN "You Get Wet"

"SONGKRAN" Thai New Year (Water Festival) from 13 until 15 April.

#SONGKRAN "You Get Wet"


Every new season inspires new experiences.
Cut the never-ending anticipation for summer short by jet-setting in April – think of it as an appetizer to your upcoming summer vacation, or perhaps the sweet dessert to your winter excursion.
Either way, whether you’re looking to eat your way through the culinary sensations of Nai Harn beach or treat your ears to timeless Shopping in Phuket Town,
your excitement will be budding like the trees outside.

For the Best Hotels & Resorts
We help you with your bookings
 
http://thailand-besthotels.com/
 http://phuket-besthotels.com/
http://hotels-patong.com/


  As the New Year begins...
May it bring happiness and prosperity...
to you and your loved ones.
 HAPPY SONGKRAN!