Songkarn Festival by Sao Supaporn Chankong

back to articles by speakers of other languages

Songkarn Festival

Thailand has many festivals, but my favourite is Songkarn which is celebrated every year from 13th to 15th April. In the past it was known as the traditional Thai New Year and a time of wild celebration as everybody has a week off, as public holidays.

April is the warmest month of the year so over 300 year ago Thai people decided to have fun by sprinkling water on each other and passers by.    We carry buckets of water or a bowls of wet powders to put on faces and wish each other for luck as well as say ”Happy New Year”.

Every household, restaurant and shops have large buckets filled with water, use for soaking people passing by and so by late afternoon everybody young or old are soaking wet but still smiling and celebrating.

In my village, late afternoon everybody goes to the temple for the ceremony of throwing perfumed water.  Then the monks arrives carrying a Buddhist Statue which they put down in the temple garden they then sit beside the Statue with the elders from the village.  Then everybody wishes each other good luck and elders give blessing to the young, they then throw water over the Buddhist Statue, after this they throw water on the monks and elders.  Every one builds several giant sand castles and decorates it with beautiful flowers.  The sand castles remain for seven days before being pulled down.

Miss Songkarn beauty contest takes place at night time in every city, funfairs, free movies, free Thai Traditional musicals are there for all to enjoy.  Some villages, which are away from the festival’s place also enjoy by having a party with various traditional foods, drinks and sing song all night.

Songkarn is my favourite festival because I always go home to my family to celebrate and when it comes to an end I always look forward for next year.

Webmaster replies

This sounds a nice festival but I don’t see it working in the middle of Glasgow.

Imagine, throwing a bucket of water at a passer by.  

I believe they do the same in India as well.

Contact us if you want to comment on the article.