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Traditional Thai New Year Celebrations |
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The Songkran festival (Thai: สงกรานต์, from Sanskrit saṅkrānti, "astrological
passage") is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to
15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and
Southeast Asia.
The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. Thais roam
the streets with containers of water or water guns (sometimes mixed with
mentholated talc), or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose
and drench each other and passersby. This, however, was not always the main
activity of this festival. Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay
respects to elders, including family members, friends and neighbors.
Besides the throwing of water, people celebrating Songkran may also go to a watt
(Buddhist monastery) to pray and give food to monks. They may also cleanse
Buddha images from household shrines as well as Buddha images at monasteries by
gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance (Thai: น้ำอบไทย) over them. It
is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New
Year.
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