Reader question: Songkran celebrate the traditional feast

Hi Harold,

Throwing the water has become massive and touristy, but in a modest form it is part of the original party!
in Chiang Mai throwing water is very popular ….

Greetings from Josh

There is no guarantee that you will keep it dry anywhere. I shot in Lampang last year, wrapping my camera well in plastic and taking it out every now and then to do some cutting. I didn't really feel comfortable with that, but yes, for beautiful pictures you sometimes take some risks. I came home soaking wet, but my camera stayed dry.
Later I also took pictures in our village, where a sand stupa building competition was organized. Although it remained largely dry there, the water pistols were not missing. Most people did not dare to spray Farang very well, in contrast to Lampang where as a farang you got the full brunt.
The fact that you have a camera with you, even if it is a very thick one, is in any case not taken into account by the water throwers. And even in places where there are no celebrations or festivities, you can suddenly get a bucket of water over you.
But… it can produce beautiful pictures.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/135094751@N06/albums/72157680488902751

Dear Harold,
I fear that many readers of the blog have never experienced a truly traditional Song Khran. Most people only know Song Khran from throwing water and not from what precedes it. To experience a truly traditional Song Khran, you will first have to get up early and preferably not in a tourist hotspot but somewhere rural.
It all starts around 7 o'clock in the morning, in the temple. The traditional washing of the Buddha statue is part of it. Then it goes home where mother and father are traditionally honored. Water is poured over the shoulders of the parents, from old to young. From here it goes to a meeting place in the village, usually the 'tessa track'. Here the elders of the village are honored in much the same way. Afterwards there is a shared family meal.
Throwing the water only starts after noon and should end at sunset…
As usual, it will be different everywhere, but that extreme water throwing only happens where many farangs reside and have made a madness of it, which has little or nothing to do with 'traditional Song Khran'.

the best way is to wrap your camera in plastic and only leave a hole for the lens. We did that at Niagara Falls. There you will also get wet in the boat. Our cameras were dry yet beautiful pictures. only occasionally dry the lens.