Come spring,the whole world starts celebrating the blooms,
celebrating the new life. Look at the similarities
across the region irrespective of different ethnicity! They may call it by
different names and celebrate it in diverse ways. But it represents new life. In India, we celebrate Holi, the colorful festival,
Ugadi in south India. Chinese celebrate new year, Japanese have spring
festival. Thailand celebrates Songkran new year festival during April. This is
one fun festival playing with water
during the blazing summer season. Thailand
is celebrating Songkran from yesterday and it will go
on for next 2 day.
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| Girl pouring water on the Buddha statue |
Songkran is about purification. I could draw so many
similarities between Indian and Thai rituals. They clean their home a day prior
to the festival. On the day of the festival
pay respects to the elders of the family and sprinkling water. They go to temples and pour
water on the shoulder and legs of Buddha. The pouring of water symbolizes cleansing the body, mind and soul and to start a new journey. Getting wet is supposed to be good luck during Songkran. Then rest of the festival is all fun with
water fights. They splash water on each other. If you are walking on the streets
during Songkran for sure you will
get wet. You will be attacked by water
pistols and buckets of water.
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| Flowers always represent festive mood |
Chiang Mai is the most happening place for Songkran in
Thailand. I was there till a day before Songkran. I couldn’t stay for Songkran
though. I am missing it. Wish I could stay for few more days. Someday I will go
to Thailand to be part of Songkran for sure.
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| Hotels getting ready for Songkran |
Whole of Chiang Mai was getting ready for the festival. Markets bustling with jasmine flowers, shops getting
cleaned, music from the shops, hotels getting decorated, yellow blooms in the
trees.. everything was resonating Songkran.
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| Yellow flowers were dominating the city |
I loved the trees abundantly carrying Cassia fistula, golden
yellow flowers. This is the same flower in India, people use as a special
flower for Vishu, Keralites new year. Co incidentally that falls on the same day
as Songkran this year and both follow the solar calender! Yes. It is Tamil new year as well.
I Wish Happy new year to my Thai friends ..and Happy Vishu and Tamil new year to all
those celebrating it in India.
Have you seen the Songkran ? Pls share your experience
