Whether they are held in reverence to religious beliefs and cultural significance or for plain entertainment, the festivals of Thailand are certainly unique and extraordinary. The most anticipated of such events, The Songkran Festival, is one that includes a mixture of both tradition and fun.
Every 13th of April, the people of Thailand celebrate the Songkran Festival. Songkran, which is of Sanskrit origins meaning the beginning of the solar year, is the Thai's traditional New Year. The event can last between 3 to 10 days, depending on varying areas in the country.
During the Songkran Festival, it has been customary for families and friends to gather and visit temples for prayer and offering. As an act of cleansing, the Thai people also cleanse Buddha images from household shrines and monasteries, pouring down water mixed with Thai fragrance on them. It is believed that doing this will bring them good luck. In some cities, Buddha images are also paraded on the streets where locals can shower them with water.
In addition, young people pour scented water into the hands of the elders and parents as a sign of respect. This is done by taking the water after it has been poured over the Buddha images for cleansing. The water is then poured on the shoulders of the elders and family, symbolizing good fortune being showered upon them.
In most recent times, the celebration of water is more for merriment and entertainment rather than spiritual or religious in nature. The people have fun carrying water guns and buckets of water to the streets, spraying and splashing anyone in their path. No one is exempt and given the fact that April is Thailand's hottest month of the year, the experience can be quite refreshing.
Of course, the festivities are not limited to the locals alone. Indeed, scores of tourists flock to Thailand to experience this extraordinary event. Many Phuket hotels welcome the festival with their own traditional Songkran ceremony while some offer special hotel packages to accommodate tourists.
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