What is the Songkran Festival?

Songkran Festival is Thailand's New Year, and it is also a family day and a day to respect the elderly. People bless the people around them by splashing water to purify themselves. Recently, due to the epidemic in Bangkok, Thailand, large-scale gatherings have to be cancelled, including the celebration of the Songkran Festival. Because during the celebration of the Songkran Festival, a large number of locals, monks and foreign tourists will gather in the street to splash water and play together, and the scene is very lively. In the severe period of the epidemic, such activities will only lead to the spread of the epidemic, so officials have to cancel the water-splashing festival. But Songkran Festival is actually a Thai New Year, which is of great significance to Thais.

1. The New Year has begun.

The Songkran Festival in Thailand started in April 13 and lasted for three consecutive days. 13 is the last day of last year, and 15 is the beginning of a new year. On the last day of the year, people will clean up and splash water on themselves, just as China needs to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year before the Spring Festival. Thais also believe that the last day of the year should clean up the dirty things accumulated in the house this year. Of course, there are activities such as cleaning up Buddha statues and parades.

April 14, the most special activity is to build sand towers, and people will take sand to temples. This day is considered auspicious by Thai people, so be sure to be happy and don't say unlucky things. 15 The main activities of the day were giving alms, listening to Buddha, splashing water and praying. Songkran Festival is a carnival day for Thais. They took part in water splashing activities these days, wishing each other well and welcoming the New Year.

2. The day of family reunion.

As the Songkran Festival is regarded as the New Year, most Thais attach great importance to it. As Songkran Festival approaches, Thais will return to their hometown and spend the holidays with their relatives. But just like people in China celebrate the Spring Festival, they will visit relatives and friends everywhere and splash water on them. At the same time, Thais will also visit their elders on this day, which is a respect for their elders.

3. Sprinkle water to avoid disasters.

The concept of splashing water to ward off evil spirits comes from Thai belief in Buddhism. Brahmanism in Buddhism believes that water is pure and can wash away all filth and disasters. This Brahmanism comes from India, and the significance of the Songkran Festival in Thailand is the same as that of Indians bathing in the Ganges, both for purification and disaster elimination.

Gan Song in the Songkran Festival means progress. After Songkran Festival, Thais entered a new year.