“Songkran” is Thai ancient tradition to celebrate the Thai New Year for long time. There is the day of generosity, love and fondness giving to family, community, society and religion. Today is the family day; all householders and some relatives gather together to be grateful to their grandparents, great grandparents and also their forebear. Descendants bring gifts and pour water on the hands of revered elders and ask for blessing. They go to make merit at the temple. There are many activities to harmonize people in community such as offering food to monks, make sand pagodas, and water splashing for enjoyment. Moreover, there are some activities to make unity, share-possessiveness feeling of public properties and environment; people clean up their houses, temples and other public buildings.
Water splashing is a symbol of Songkran festival because it is a distinctive and well-known activity. Since this festival has been held in summer, it makes this activity is so favourable.
At the beginning, people walked and could play with their intimate friends or they could splash only people who willing to play with them. They splashed in limited areas not all over the whole city.
However, something has been changed. The beginning of the change was around 1960. There were many tourists from Bangkok arrived here to see the Lanna tradition which they had never seen before. This make the festival become as the famous tourist selling point. But the wave of tourist gradually makes change to the festival. Make it worse. From the fabulous tradition to something that are not exactly Songkran anymore. Lots of vehicles – trucks and motorbikes, crowd into the city mote. People can splash to anybody that they want. Female teenagers dress with strapless, spaghetti sleeve, and mini-shorts. All this behavior can decay the beautiful Sognkran.
What does next generation Songkran mean and look like?
Dutdaow [Jazz]
3 comments:
Songkran is my family day because we have a free time to do the activity together like making a merit at the temple, going to visit grandma,etc. I like Songkran in Chiang Mai because it is different from other province. People will locate at city mote to splash water to people who pass by. When I was young, I like Songkran a lot and go out with my friend to splash water at city mote but today it is like "violence" (a war may be) and Songkran in CM is not Lanna traditional anymore.so we should preserve it.
Nartchulee (Eve)
Songkran Festival is an old Thai culture. During this festival, young people show respect and gratitude to their parent and elder relatives by visiting and giving a garland of jasmines, Thai perfume water and gifts like clothes or something else to show care and respect.
Songkran Day is also Family Day. People will go back to their hometown to reunite with their family. They celebrate together with the warm welcome of their family and friends. This beautiful practice still remains nowadays.
One practice of Songkran Festival has been changed, the way to splash water. Teenagers try to create new challenge ways in splashing water. Some of them throw water violently, some mix ice cubes, mud and any other sticky dirt in water. This cause pain and dirt. It also causes accident if one throws it to people riding motorcycle on the road.
I hope to see water splashing in the old way of Songkran Festival.
The beautiful, friendliness, generosity of this festival will still remain if Thai people practice it in the old and appropriate way.
*****Prapaporn******
I used to love Songkarn festival when I was younger but now I think I'm kind of too old for outdoor activity like holding the water gun and run around shooting at everyone who pass me.
Now when I know the Songkarn is coming I will be real happy because this is long weekend and I can spend a lot of time with my family.
Sometime we are busy with our own life schudel and we forget all about the prople who care so much about us, family especially parent. So don't forget to do something nice for them and show them how much you love them.
Happy Thai New Year.
Chaiyot (Gong)
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