NewsLetterIssue4 April-June10.indd - RIS stories

COMMUNITY
Happy Thai New Year!
Songkran is a Thai word which means “move” or “change
place” as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the
zodiac. It is also known as the “Water Festival” as people
believe that water will wash away bad luck.
ongkran is the Thai traditional
SNew Year which starts on April
13 every year and lasts for three
days. Songkran festival on April 13
is Maha Songkran Day or the day to
mark the end of the old year; April
14 is Wan Nao which is the day
after; and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng
Sok, which is the day the New Year
begins. Our schools were able to
begin the festivities early on April 8
at our all-school assembly, ringing in
a new year with song and dance and
paying homage to our administrators
and teachers.
The Songkran tradition is recognized
as a valuable custom for the Thai
community, society and religion. It
provides the opportunity for family
members to gather in order to express
their respect to the elders by pouring
scented water onto the palms of
their parents and grandparents; and
to present them with gifts, which
include making merits to dedicate the
result to their ancestors. The elders in
return wish the youngsters good luck
and prosperity.
Songkran creates unity in the
community by jointly acquiring
merits, meeting each other and
enjoying the entertaining events
together. Society benefits as
well, creating a concern upon the
environment with cooperation such
as cleaning houses, temples, public
places and official buildings. Thais
value the religion by means of merits
acquisition, offerings alms to monks,
Dhamma Practice, listening to
sermons and monks-bathing.
In the afternoon, after performing
a bathing rite for Buddha images
and the monks, the celebrants both
young and old, joyfully splash water
on each other. The most-talked
about celebration takes place in the
northern province of Chiang Mai
where Songkran is celebrated from
April 13 to 15. During this period,
people from all parts of the country
flock there to enjoy the water festival,
to watch the Miss Songkran Contest
and the beautiful parades.
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NEWSLETTER Volume 3, Issue 4