I enjoyed walking down Beach Road today seeing everyone in a festive mood. It is always a fun time; however, the chalky white *hit that is spread on ones face gets to be a bit tiring. Water..ok...but the constant smear of a substance that looks like dried up dog do-do doesn't mean "good luck" to me. How did this "custom" enter into the tradition of "modern Songkran"?

The white powder/paste thing enter the scene a few hundred years ago, in this day and age its actually talcum powder and not chalk.

As we all know, Budism is based on the belief that when we die, we have the chance of moving from the position we held in our previous life to a new position in our next life and whether we have an improved postion or a lower position will depend on how good we were in our past life. The flower that is rubbed on our faces during Sonkrahn simbolises the ashes that are left after we are burned at the temple and will tell Budha if we have been a good person or a bad person.

Watching these demented white faced demons dancing in the streets today reminded me of the Mau Mau uprising in Kenia 50 years ago

Racist flame removed from view

Powder is ok, but everybody throws ice water, whichis disgusting when riding a bike.

Powder is ok, but everybody throws ice water, whichis disgusting when riding a bike.

you forgot to mention that when they spray with those high powered water things, they aims at your eyes.

And then someone wonder why some people prefer to not to go out for a ride during the celebrations...perhaps the almost 300 dead people, thousands of hospitalised and god knows how many unreported tragedies/minor injuries happened, for sure much more, might be suggesting something.....Happy Songkran