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Songkran Festival, wet or very wet!

13/09/2018 1.477 4.83/5 trong 3 rates

Songkran Festival, wet or very wet!

Thailand is one of the best travel places in Asia with beautiful beaches, lovely nightlife, colorful festivals and friendly local people. The name “Songkran” comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "passing" or "approaching" and marks the beginning of the Thai New Year.

Songkran Festival (water festival) is considered as one of the country’s largest celebrations in Thailand. It is Thailand’s busiest time, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists.

Meaning of Songkran Festival
The Songkran Festival is a period when the Thai people cleanse and pour water mixed with Thai fragrance on Buddha images. The festival also showcases a bathing ritual where the people pour water on the senior Buddhist monks. This process is believed to bring good luck to them. After that, the chief monk will give a sermon and bless those who attend this bathing ritual. It is also the day to give respect to one's elders and homage to those who have gone.
One of the best times to visit Thailand is during the celebration of the Songkran Festival. This celebration includes three days: 13 April is regarded as Maha Songkran, the day that the sun moves into Aries on the zodiac or the last day of the old year. The next day, 14 April is called Wan Nao, the transitional day between the old and the new year, and 15 April is called Wan Thaloeng Sok, New Year's day.
What happens?
The local people celebrate the Songkran Festival by splashing water over themselves with a word of blessing “Sawadee Pee Mai” which means: “Happy New Year!”. Most young Thai people use pump-action water guns and pump buckets to soak themselves up. Water guns, hose pipes, buckets or anything you can get your hands on can be used to splash people, and one thing is for certain: you will get wet!
Although this festival is celebrated in almost Thai’s cities, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Pattaya must be the best choice for visitors.
Songkran in Bangkok (April 13-15)
During Songkran, Bangkok experiences a mass exodus when at least half of its residents come back to their hometowns for family reunions. During Songkran, most office buildings, banks and even family-run shops and restaurants is closed. However, some big shopping malls still open. The biggest parties will take place at Khao San Road and Silom Road.
Songkran in Chiang Mai (April 13-15)
The reason why Songkran in Chiang Mai is the wettest that the choice of weapon is not the water gun as it is the other major cities, but the bucket, which ranges in size from small sandcastle moulds to industrial-scale pails. The biggest party can be found at the Tha Pae Gate on the eastern side of the city. There, you will find several stages set up and an open-air food market behind them.
Songkran in Pattaya (April 13-19)
Pattaya is known as a party city in Thailand. Therefore, Songkran Festival last longer here than anywhere else in Thailand. Don’t surprise!
Many bars will have a selection of water butts, generally with a few large blocks of ice floating in them. Besides, Beach Road is cut off to traffic and stages are set up for live music and foam machines. On the roads that do allow vehicles, the main ones become a slow-moving traffic jam. More bizarre things to see as monks sat in the back of pick-up trucks, rolling around town giving merit and blessings.
Necessary Rules in Songkran Festival
It’s all just fun, so do not get angry.
Do not douse monks, babies or the elderly
Do not wear white shirts– it goes see-through when wet!
Do not throw water after sundown
Sunglasses will protect your eyes from water and the mysterious paste
Be careful with your belongings
Avoid swallowing the water being sprayed at you – you don’t know where it came from!

Source Internet

Travel Asia Thailand Songkran Festival

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QuynhNhu

is member from: 10/09/2018, has 640 posts

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