Songkran Festival: Soaked And Loving It

[webfact]

FESTIVAL

Soaked and loving it

Phoowadon Duangmee

The Nation

Bangkok

From dusk till dawn, we offer a guide to making the most out of summer's hottest days

THAILAND: -- Songkran, the traditional Thai new year, may be about going home but there's no denying that many people do in fact leave their homes to celebrate in other places. From Friday until Monday, the official Songkran holiday, all of Thailand will be celebrating this much-loved festival.

From Bangkok to Khon Kaen and Chiang Mai to Hat Yai, millions of us - Thai, Mon, Chinese, farang, Shan and the Burmese too - will be taking to the streets, as well as to the temple, to celebrate Songkran and mark the lunar New Year.

Where can you go for Songkran Festival? Whether you fancy a gentle, traditional sprinkling

or a bucketful of icy water over your head, the following venues have all you need for a good time.

BANGKOK

Nagaraphirom Park - the city's latest green space on the west side of Chao Phraya - is hosting grand Songkran festival from now until Sunday. Those unable to make it out of town to see their folks upcountry should find some comfort here, as the park will be offering the country's best cultural showcases as well as food from every part of Thailand.

For a really wet-and-wild scene, Khao San Road is definitely the place to be. Armed with pump-action water canons and buckets of coloured powder, thousands of fun-lovers will be soaking everything that moves. From tomorrow (until there is nothing left to soak), Khao San Road and Santi Chaiprakan Park in Bang Lamphu play host to the International Songkran Festival with constant water throwing, lots of noise and people of all nationalities having fun.

Siam Square, Bangkok's favourite teen hub and hangout, answers Khao San's wild water festival with its own "neo-nostalgic" version. Under the theme "Pha Khao Ma - Thai Turban Conquers the World", Songkran Festival at Siam Square combines the best of both worlds. From Friday to Sunday, party-goers will welcome monks in the morning for a ritual blessing before making way for music by Moderndog, Joey Boy and others. Bring your own pha khao ma.

For more sedate fun, nine temples around Sanam Luang, among them Wat Pho, Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of Emerald Buddha) and Wat Bowonniwet, are holding Songkran fairs from Friday to Sunday.

RATCHABURI

Wat Khanon Temple dims the light low and goes for a low-key drama when it's time to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year. On Friday and Saturday nights, the temple will be hosting the Thai Puppet Festival in its grounds. This annual festival always draws the country's best puppet masters and culture buffs for the finest traditional performing art. The highlight will be Nang Yai Shadow Puppets who'll be recounting the ancient epic of the Ramayana. Adding even more colour to the light and shadow are smaller rod puppets, Lanna Khon dance and Dikir Hulu Muslim folk dances, along with workshop and hand-on demonstrations of mask and puppet making and other traditional performing arts. Wat Khanon, in Ratchaburi's Photharam district, is about 85 kilometre west of Bangkok.

CHIANG MAI

There's never a bad time to visit the Lanna capital, but one of the best is during the Songkran holiday - when there are festivals, tasting events and the chance to rub shoulders with the locals. The New Year begins in the temples with a gentle sprinkling of water and a light dusting on the cheeks with fragrant paste. Once they're done with the temple affairs, throngs of locals and visitors march to the city moats with buckets in hand. Things get messier as they start throwing water on passers-by. The festival culminates at night with lively dancing at Thapae Gate.

AYUTTHAYA

Here, in Siam's old capital, you're in a tug of water war with elephants. A grand procession of Buddha images, accompanied by the elephants and the Queen of Songkran takes place today on the city's main road, leading the way to the historical park. The best places to hang out are Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit, the ruins of the historical park, and in and around the island. Ayutthaya celebrates with a parade and great fanfare from Friday to Sunday.

PATTAYA

Pattaya folk celebrate Songkran a week later though you can still expect to get wet over the next three days. On April 20, Pattaya beach road will be closed to pave the way for the Buddha procession. Afterwards, young people go gunning for fun armed with double-barrel water cannons and buckets, ensuring the beach town gets totally soaked. Among the more courageous "roadside warriors" are the transvestites who turn up in super-tight T-shirts clamouring for more water.

SAMUT PRAKAN

The old Mon neighbourhood of Phra Pradaeng keeps the best for last, celebrating Songkran in a three-day event that kicks off on Saturday, April 22. The centrepiece is at Wat Ketchedtharam, a Mon temple in Phra Pradaeng district, with merit-making and entertainment that runs from dawn till late at night. Expect traditional Mon games like sa-baa, great food and folk arts.

HAT YAI, SONGKHLA

You've probably done many kinds of Songkran Festival - gentle sprinkles of fragrant water in Chiang Mai, buckets of icy water in Khao San Road or even getting hit by a plastic bag full of nam pla ra (fermented fish sauce) in Isaan. But you can't say you're done with Songkran until you visit Hat Yai. Tucked away in Thailand's South, the tourist town of Hat Yai will throw midnight parties to celebrate Songkran Festival. Buddha bathing, Queen of Songkran contest, foam party and many fun-filled activities take place after the night falls during the Songkran holiday.

-- The Nation 2012-04-11

[Ulysses G.]

I'm sure that all Thai Visa members are looking forward to the fun!

[kevjohn]

I thought that I would miss out this year as the wife and myself are back in Aus.

Not so lucky. Wife hit me with a bucket of water this morning while out in the back yard.

[Fatherfluffybottom]

My 1st Songkran im looking forward to it, though i think after day 1 i will have had enough!!

[lovelaos]

My 1st Songkran im looking forward to it, though i think after day 1 i will have had enough!!

The 1st one is great fun, enjoy it before you become a grumpy old bore like the rest of us. I detest it and lock myself away or leave the country.

[jambodave]

My 1st songkran,going to a party in the wifes village don"t know what to expect.

[bangkokgabe]

As a lifelong citizen of New Orleans, and a resident of BKK for the past 6 years, the similarities between Songkran and Mardi Gras are surreal. It's literally celebrated the same way-just trade beads and trinkets for water! The demographics, however, different.....555!!!

[ericg]

Also my first songkran, really looking forward to it, should be fun! Bought some water guns for the local kids around my apartment so I expect a mini water war first thing steping out my block lol, should be fun!

[HeavyDrinker]

I'll have a few hours on the last day with my local pod of motorbike lads as it gives me a chance to get them a few bottles of whiskey as a thanks for their unpaid vigilance throughout the year as well as getting me away from the wife, her sisters and her pals for a few hours.

[Jingthing]

Pattaya's big day the 20th!?!

Most of think it's the 19th?!?

What's up?

Also, interesting how specific the Nation is on people from Asia, and so non-specific with the f-rang word.

I don't think a serious newspaper should ever use the f-rang word the way the Nation did. But I did say, serious newspaper.

Thai, Mon, Chinese, farang, Shan and the Burmese

Edited April 11, 2012 by Jingthing

[lovelaos]

Pattaya's big day the 20th!?!

Most of think it's the 19th?!?

What's up?

Also, interesting how specific the Nation is on people from Asia, and so non-specific with the f-rang word.

I don't think a serious newspaper should ever use the f-rang word the way the Nation did. But I did say, serious newspaper.

Thai, Mon, Chinese, farang, Shan and the Burmese

I noticed that also but didn't want to mention it for fear of turning yet another thread into a farangathon.

[gmac]

As a lifelong citizen of New Orleans, and a resident of BKK for the past 6 years, the similarities between Songkran and Mardi Gras are surreal. It's literally celebrated the same way-just trade beads and trinkets for water! The demographics, however, different.....555!!!

.

Sorry, crap iPhone app, could't see anywhere type reply! Give me the beads and trinkets over the water any day!!

[risky11]

suksomwon Songkran!

[jaideecm]

Here is a great article with video of Songkran in Chiang Mai.

Enjoy

[18074U]

I've been using the AC like 1h a day for the last 6 months. Now suddenly I feel obliged to use it 7h a day. The heat is unbearable, so lets bring on the water!

[metisdead]

Off topic and derogatory posts have been removed.

[KKK]

Pattaya's big day the 20th!?!

Most of think it's the 19th?!?

What's up?

I too understand it to be the 19th....can anyone confirm?

I want to know which day to hide inside from the silliest of silly festivals.....

Edited April 11, 2012 by KKK

[IanForbes]

I'll spend an extra half hour in the shower and call it my Songkran... then get on with my life without anyone trying to kill me.

[ruddy2000]

Anyone have any idea if it is traditionally celebrated on Koh Chang? Or will it be more chilled?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[pattayadingo]

Time is a coming to stock up the larder in readiness with a good supply of food and tidbits.

Time soon to wrap up the wallet, the phone and other essential items in plastic bags to stop them getting soaked.

Why?

The idiots will soon be roaming the streets of Pattaya. The idiots who do not realise when to stop. The idiots who soak people on their way to work, so these people need to carry a spare set of dry clothes or store some spare clothes at work. Those who throw ice at motorbikes.

Give me the more civilised areas where they at least have some courtesy with regards to whom the people soak. Or like those places that have designated areas where you can go and have fun and be soaked because many of us like to join in for a bit of fun but not to be soaked time and time again, day after day.

Have fun and enjoy - if you can.

[Colabamumbai]

Remember if a watergun sprayer causes you to go down on the motorbike they face 2 years in jail and a 4,000 Bhat fine. I usually carry a few large rocks in my hand.

[Tanaka]

My 1st songkran,going to a party in the wifes village don"t know what to expect.

Dont forget to wear your best suit! And shoes, not flip flops. Enjoy the party.

[jeanelie]

I love it.

[Tanaka]

Time is a coming to stock up the larder in readiness with a good supply of food and tidbits.

Time soon to wrap up the wallet, the phone and other essential items in plastic bags to stop them getting soaked.

Why?

The idiots will soon be roaming the streets of Pattaya. The idiots who do not realise when to stop. The idiots who soak people on their way to work, so these people need to carry a spare set of dry clothes or store some spare clothes at work. Those who throw ice at motorbikes.

Give me the more civilised areas where they at least have some courtesy with regards to whom the people soak. Or like those places that have designated areas where you can go and have fun and be soaked because many of us like to join in for a bit of fun but not to be soaked time and time again, day after day.

Have fun and enjoy - if you can.

The Idiots being mostly foreigners.

[Kananga]

Time is a coming to stock up the larder in readiness with a good supply of food and tidbits.

Time soon to wrap up the wallet, the phone and other essential items in plastic bags to stop them getting soaked.

Why?

The idiots will soon be roaming the streets of Pattaya. The idiots who do not realise when to stop. The idiots who soak people on their way to work, so these people need to carry a spare set of dry clothes or store some spare clothes at work. Those who throw ice at motorbikes.

Give me the more civilised areas where they at least have some courtesy with regards to whom the people soak. Or like those places that have designated areas where you can go and have fun and be soaked because many of us like to join in for a bit of fun but not to be soaked time and time again, day after day.

Have fun and enjoy - if you can.

The Idiots being mostly foreigners.

Absolutely. The Thais are too busy drink driving.

[how241]

I'm sure that all Thai Visa members are looking forward to the fun!

ha ha ha .

[pattayadingo]

Time is a coming to stock up the larder in readiness with a good supply of food and tidbits.

Time soon to wrap up the wallet, the phone and other essential items in plastic bags to stop them getting soaked.

Why?

The idiots will soon be roaming the streets of Pattaya. The idiots who do not realise when to stop. The idiots who soak people on their way to work, so these people need to carry a spare set of dry clothes or store some spare clothes at work. Those who throw ice at motorbikes.

Give me the more civilised areas where they at least have some courtesy with regards to whom the people soak. Or like those places that have designated areas where you can go and have fun and be soaked because many of us like to join in for a bit of fun but not to be soaked time and time again, day after day.

Have fun and enjoy - if you can.

The Idiots being mostly foreigners.

Agreed.

[smotherb]

Ah, yes, Songkran. My first was 44 years ago, at the old Nana Hotel Coffee Shop. Eating breakfast, I felt a sprinkle of water on the back of my neck. Thinking I had just not fully dried my hair, I grazed on. Again the sprinkle, and a giggle from behind. Remembering Songkran, I tossed my glass of water over my shoulder--what great day we had drenching and gettiing drenched. The best part of Songkran that day was the water jousts in the long-tailed boats on the klongs. The lady and I are still good friends.

I cannot tell you how many Songkrans I've enjoyed, I have not lived in Thailand for all those years, but suffice to say, more than a dozen.

I still love Songkran and pity you old farts who don't.

Edited April 11, 2012 by smotherb

[smotherb]

My 1st songkran,going to a party in the wifes village don"t know what to expect.

Dont forget to wear your best suit! And shoes, not flip flops. Enjoy the party.

Yes, and take your best video equipment, cell phone and tablet--the villagers will love seeing them

[samsiam]

cannot wait...cannot wait...cannot wait....tis like xmas