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 Songkran @ Silom, Bangkok
(THAILAND) by vigiLeave a Comment
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 After A Walk Outside by aukjejetty
Especialy when you are white you will have to take a lof of water and dough. I would advise to buy a good weapon (big watergun) and just defend yourself as well as you can! Leave a Comment
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 Having a shower @ the
streets?;-) by yen_2
Songkran Festival
(April 7-15, 2003 at Sanam Luang and citywide, Bangkok)
This traditional Thai New Year may be celebrated all over the city, but the main spectacles center around the old area of Bangkok near the Grand Palace, Rachadamneon Avenue and Khaosan Road. At Sanam Luang, the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image will be displayed and bathed by thousands of Buddhists, while, not so far away from Sanam Luang, in the town’s main backpacker haven, Khaosan Road, several thousands of locals and tourists have a blast in the city’s biggest water battle. During this festival, Rachadamneon Avenue’s charm will be enhanced by beautiful fountains along the avenue.
A Little Advice
1. If you get involved in the water splashing, remember that older people are exempt. It's not a great idea to splash policemen either.
2. If you decide to get into the splashing, approach people with respect. Don't get too carried away, or you may accidentally give offence.
3. Take it all in your stride. Maybe you didn't realise that you were going to be in Thailand at this time, and hadn't planned on getting soaked. Well. no amount of getting annoyed is going to change that -- it's their country and their most important festival and the Thai people are going to enjoy it. Put on your worst clothes (or buy some cheap ones) and get into it. You're on holiday -- forget everything, look, learn new things, and just have FUN. You might just find yourself feeling cleansed.
courtesy of: http://www.thailandgrandfestival.com/festival.asp?festID=7r />
I took the photo just this afternoon along the way to the park and they really put us some water even my little one:) Leave a Comment
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The Songkran "festival" is in mid-April. Here is a warning to unsuspecting visitors:
Traditionally young people showed respect to elders by sprinkling a bit of water over their hands. But Songkran in Bangkok and other tourist centers has changed into something rather vicious. Most of us who live here stay at home during Songkran, or leave the country for that week.
I've watched from inside the glass doors of my building. Anybody going past WILL get drenched. Not just a sprinkle or a squirt, but a bucket of water poured over them or thrown in their face. Much of the water is chilled with ice or mixed with talcum powder. In some areas, the water is scooped from the filthy canals and river.
Most of the Thais are relaxed about it: they laugh and throw water and laugh some more. But I was amazed at the intensity of some foreigners; they were attacking with out-of-control frenzy. Songkran seems to bring out the worst in some people.
Here are comments about Songkran from one long-time Bangkok resident, "Mekong Kurt", posted on his excellent website, http://bangkokatoz.com
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"Thai New Year, Songkhran, will be upon us in less than a month. ... much of the time, there are wild water fights, including ... unwilling "combatants" who want to do nothing more than get away. As I normally do, I'll leave the country for the Days of Madness. A fair number of my friends just lock themselves in their homes for several days ... If you don't want to get drenched, better start making your travel plans now."
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This year, 2006, Songkran is officially April 13-15, but the dousings continue throughout the week beginning April 9. I've read that the worst is at Kaosarn Road in Bangkok, and anywhere near Beach Road in Pattaya.
Locals who must be out and about during Songkran wear old clothes, carry money and documents in a plastic bag, and slip mobile phone into a condom, then tie a knot in the open end.
Website below has photos.
As for me, I won't venture past those glass doors.
-- Peter Leave a Comment
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 by joiedevivre
It is celebrated in April. It starts on April 12th and finish on April 19th, following the cities and their region. It can last 8 full days in some places!
The Thai New Year marks the beginning of the hot season. Thus, there is a tradition for water blessings. Young people will go to elders' houses to lightly pour some water on their body.
If the original way of celebrating is a very beautiful and respectful one, with the modern days, things have changed a lot and the Thai New Year is more than that.
From the first day to the last one, from morning to night, wherever you go, you will be thrown water out of recipients (glasses, bottles, buckets, jars, hoses. water pistols, and so on). Everything will do as soon as it is filled up with water.
Speaking about water: it can be crystal clear, mixed with colorants (then the liquid comes out green, red, yellow), cool or cold (ice being added up) or mixed with flour.
The Thai people are very imaginative, you will see by yourselves...
When you are going to celebrate the Thai New Year, you have to make yourself ready for a wet long day. It can be quite fun when you are actively participating to the festivities. When you are not, because for example you are working or you are too old, it can look like hell, and I mean that word (sorry for the ones who will disagree now).
The Thai New Year will add 500 more people on the dead list. People will drink more than usual and will cause mostly road accidents. People will visit a nearby hospital or clinic because of skin or eye allergies being the consequence of dirty water thrown on them.
I don't want to spoil your Thai New Year but as a resident and a witness to many bad accidents (where sometimes friends of mine were involved as victims), it is my duty to just let you know about a few facts that you may ignore.
Anyway, I wish a happy Songkran for the ones who will be there! Leave a Comment
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 Water wars in Bangkok at
Songkran. by worldkiwiLeave a Comment
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 Kid with a hose on Songkran by Blatherwick
This tradition originated in the lustration ceremony, in which the Buddha images in the temples are cleaned. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai, the Buddha statues from all of the wats in the city are paraded through the streets, so that people can throw water on them as they pass. The use of plaster is also very common having originated in the plaster used by monks to mark blessings.
Other traditional elements of the festival include young people visiting elders, and pouring small amounts of lustral water on the hands of their elders as a sign of respect. People carry handfuls of sand to their temple in order to make up for the dirt that they carry away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is then piled into large, tiered sand castles and decorated with colorful flags. In general, Songkran is a time for cleaning and renewal. Many Thais take this opportunity to give their home a thorough cleaning. Leave a Comment
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April 12 - 16, 2006
Celebrating Songkran Festival for the first time was quite funny and interesting. Better to be ready for the water-pouring so it is advised to wear shirt and shorts.
Don't be shock if someone will pour water on you and put some powder in your face.
Don't be angry...
Just smile!!!! Leave a Comment
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