Happy Thai New Year: Sawadee Pi Mai, Songkran can begin!
Songkran, the Thai New Year, is a festival of water and goodwill, of cleansing and joy. Every year, around mid-April, the streets of Thailand transform into rivers of joy, where young and old, Thai and foreigner, meet in a playful water fight that refreshes the soul and washes away old worries.
In the heart of Chiang Mai, where the ancient city walls still whisper the secrets of the past, the festivities begin at sunrise. Monks in saffron robes solemnly walk through the streets, thoughtfully filling their begging bowls. Pouring the respectful water over the hands of the elders is a serene act that seeks the blessings of the elders and purifies the path for the new year.
As the morning progresses, the calm serenity turns into an exuberant explosion of energy. Music vibrates through the air. Young people, armed with colorful water pistols and buckets, take shelter behind makeshift barricades. The scent of sweet, sticky mango sticky rice mingles with the fresh, cool splashes of water. Stalls along the roads sell flower garlands and traditional Thai food, their colors bright against the clear blue sky.
The water, essential in these festivities, symbolizes cleansing. Washing away the dust of the past year and welcoming the new one with a clean slate. Tourists and locals laugh as one, the barriers of language and culture washed away with every friendly splash.
In Bangkok, where the modern metropolis embraces tradition, the streets are closed to traffic and turn into streams of revelers. Silom, normally a bastion of business and commerce, becomes a water fight arena. The BTS skytrain platform offers a unique view of the merriment below, where everyone from security guards to street vendors join in the party.
Besides the playful stuff, Songkran is also a time for introspection and spiritual renewal. Many Thais visit temples to pray and dump sand, symbolically restoring the temple of all the sand taken away by visitors' feet during the year. The serene temple grounds, often decorated with colorful lanterns and flags, provide a quiet counterpart to the wild water fights outside.
As the sun sets and the last drops of water evaporate on the hot paving stones, peace slowly returns. Families and friends gather for large meals, share their experiences of the day and laugh at the wet but happy faces. The spirit of Songkran, with its unique blend of respect, cheerfulness and sense of community, reflects the essence of Thai culture.
As I tell this story from a small café, with the last remnants of water still on my skin, I feel the deep connection with this beautiful country and its people. I wish everyone, near and far, a happy and blessed Thai New Year. May the water of Songkran purify your life and bring you joy and renewal, just as it does here in Thailand. Sawadee Pi Mai!
About this blogger
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My age officially falls into the category of 'elderly'. I've been living in Thailand for 28 years - try to do that. The Netherlands used to be paradise, but it fell into disrepair. So I went looking for a new paradise and found Siam. Or was it the other way around and Siam found me? Either way, we were good-natured.
ICT provided a regular income, something you call 'work', but for me it was mainly a pastime. Writing, that's the real hobby. For Thailandblog I'm picking up that old love again, because after 15 years of hard work you deserve some reading material.
I started in Phuket, moved to Ubon Ratchathani, and after a stopover in Pattaya I now live somewhere in the north, in the middle of nature. Rest never rusts, I always say, and that turns out to be true. Here, surrounded by greenery, time seems to stand still, but fortunately life doesn't.
Eating, especially lots of it – that’s my passion. And what makes an evening complete? A good glass of whisky and a cigar. That’s about it, I think. Cheers!
Photos, I don't do that. I always look ugly in them, even though I know Brad Pitt pales in comparison. It must be the photographer, I think.
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That's how it is! That's Songkraan! Sawadi pie mai!
Sawadi pie mai!
Thanks for this nice story; an excellent description of what Songkran is and means.
Nice background story about Songkran
A few years ago in my wife's native village we celebrated SongKran, the ritual in which our children and grandchildren ritually paid tribute to us and asked for forgiveness of sins, sprinkled our hands with water, after which we gave the children our approval and blessing, which has a deep meaning. impressed me.
Of course there was a party later and we were sprayed.
But the true intention of SongKran, the ritual between children, grandchildren, parents and grandparents is very beautiful.
Sawadee Pi Mai
Gr. Arno
I personally have the feeling that songkran is becoming more and more like a party that should radiate joy and freedom to forget the heavy things. That's all well and good of course, but I still see a changing pattern in BKK. D
Day 2 is “family day” and there was an opinion piece about this in the Bangkok Post.https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/2775893/thai-families-no-longer-fit-a-mould
More and more people in BKK who find their lives worth something visit the provinces during the long school holidays (October and March/Apr) so that the generations can see each other in person. Saves traffic jams and, if the vehicle finally breaks through, accidents during the heyday of reckless driving.
In the future, it is almost inevitable that generations 1-3 will all be born there and that a mass exodus during holidays could easily end. That can cause a lot of unnecessary deaths and grief.
You may want to continue to hold on to traditions, but the spirit of the times determines the direction towards change. Even in conservative TH.