(Photo: Rapee for 2Bangkok.com)
Happy Songkran Day - From Khoasod, April 13, 2010
[This is the only Songkran cartoon we found this year.]
The title reads: Happy Songkran Day
[The rest is a poem.]
Songkran Festival has been blissful,
The water blessing ceremony that cools off the hot climate
Now becomes the saliva war [a war of words],
Fearful of possible bloodshed.
To release the hot climate and sufferings,
We have to rely on kindness for each other
And holding tight to moral peace.
To return a blissful Songkran to every Thai
Songkran - Thai new year and water-throwing festival
Also: Songkran at U-tapao in 1970 [many interesting websites disappeared when GeoCities was shut down. If anyone knows where these Songkran photos from 1970 went, please let us know.] Another interesting Thai holiday: Loy Krathong |
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April 13, 14 and 15 are the Songkran holidays in Thailand.
It is the hottest time of the year. Families gather and youngsters pour
water over their elders' hands as a sign of respect. Buddha images are
also sprinkled with water. Another tradition is merit making by forming
miniature chedis out of sand and placing small flags in them.
Songkran's international fame comes from the water dousing that goes on
throughout the country. Children stand along the roadside to douse passersby
with water and talcum powder. Young people get in the back of pickup trucks
with barrels of water and cruise around, throwing water at people.
Traffic deaths also hit a yearly high due to a combination of motorcycles,
alcohol and roads slick from talcum powder and water. A few short decades
ago Songkran was much more subdued lasting 1-2 days. Today it has become
akin to Japanese Golden Week with travel chaos throughout the country
as people taking the entire week off to return to their homes and drunken
young people engaging in all-night 'water wars.'
(Photo: Graham)
Let's be careful out there -
April 12, 2008
Songkran one of the most dangerous times of the year for road accidents...
(Photo: Graham)
(Photo: 2Bangkok.com)
Songkran billboard -
April 12, 2008
It reads: Have you paid respects to your parents during the Songkran Festival?
(Photo: Zsolt)
"Songkran No Alcohol" -
April 12, 2008
It reads: Have fun with the Songkran Festival without alcoholic beverages
(Photo: Zsolt)
Pre-Songkran parade and "Mr. Thailand" -
April 12, 2008
The sign reads: Promoting the Songkran Festival to carry on Thailand’s tradition
[Note the man on the bike in the second photo. The sign on his bike reads "Mr. Thailand"]
(Photo: Zsolt)

Other festivals with a water-throwing component - April 13, 2007
The Philippine's Feast of St. John
Cambodia's water festival
Laos's water festival
Brazilian carnival-related water throwing festival from the past?
Poland's Dyngus Day or Wet Monday
Myanmar: Burma Civil Servants to Remain in Naypyidaw for Water Festival - The Irrawaddy, April 10, 2007
Burmese authorities have ordered civil servants to stay in the new capital Napyidaw during the traditional New Year, while entertainers were urged to join them, according to sources in the administrative city...
Myanmar: Thingyan Time—When Fun-Loving Burmese Douse Their Disappointments - The Irrawaddy, April 11, 2007
Historians suggest that the annual water festival now about to be celebrated in many countries of Southeast Asia, including Burma, dates back more than 900 years and is believed to be rooted in Hinduism...
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Songkran goddess - Daily News, April 13, 2007 Right: Water pistols for Songkran for 7 baht. |
![]() (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
Bangkok
residents want to pay respect to PM Thaksin most during Songkran festival
- TNA, April 11, 2006
People living in this Thai capital say they want to pay respect to
caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra most during the ongoing Songkran
festival, the traditional Thai New Year, by pouring perfumed water on
his palms, according to a recent poll.
The ABAC Poll of Assumption University, conducted from April 8-10, found
that the caretaker premier is still the most popular politician, with
52.9 per cent of respondents saying they want to pour perfumed water on
Mr. Thaksin's hands and being blessed in return...
![]() (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |
Seniors ride BTS free of charge
- April 15, 2006 Left: The sign reads: Let's celebrate Songkran - 13-15 April - Seniors ride BTS free of charge Official Songkran website - Songkran.net - April 13, 2006 Also: TAT has some info on the religious and cultural aspects of the festival. Also: Ancient, region-wide custom, The Nation, April 13, 2003 The water festival has been celebrated for centuries in Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, even in Yunnan... 'The gayest of Thailand's festival' - April 13, 2005 An interesting ghost site is the Internet 1996 World Exposition Thai Pavilion that also explains that Songkran is the 'The gayest of Thailand's festival.' Here: 'Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra clicking an electronic door to open the Thai Pavilion.' |
Total
abandon is not Songkran - Bangkok Post, April 9,
2005 Picking up the bodies
- April 16, 2005 |
![]() (Photo: 2Bangkok.com) |