The Songkran Festival is the traditional Thai New Year, markedby the celebration of water throwing, majorly in Thailand.‘Songkran’ is derived from the Sanskrit word Sankrantiwhich literally means shifting of the sun from one zodiac toanother. Also known as the Thailand Water Festival, Songkran is arevelry carried out on a span of three days, i.e. 13th April to15th April, where the last day marks the advent of a New Year.Besides an extensive celebration of Songkran in Thailand, thisfestival is observed in many other places, including Burma,Cambodia, and the Lao State.The people of Thailand clean their houses and come together tocelebrate the Songkran Festival. They visit the temples, carry out theceremonial sprinkling of water on Buddha images and other deities,make offerings to the temple, and sprinkle water on each other’shands as an act of wishing good luck. It also meant that by doingthis, bad conduct and bad thoughts would flow away with thewater.The pouring of water is considered an act of cleansing of thespirit, mind and body. Purification of the house, previousyear’s bad deeds, Buddha’s statue, and one’s ownspirit is done. The water is also believed to wash away bad luck.This Thailand Water Festival is a perfect time to get drenched asthe occasion falls during the hottest time of the year and thewater tends to be relieving and refreshing.In the recent years, the tradition of sprinkling of water hasbeen transformed into major fun-filled water fights amongstyoungsters, and it is not unusual to see buckets and containers ofwater being carried down the streets on trucks and eventuallysplashed at you by various teams as you make your way down thelanes in Thailand. Some people position themselves at the side ofthe roads with hosepipes in order to drench anyone that passes! Themore water you have splashed over you the luckier you are! Smallchildren equip themselves with water guns and spray water on anyonewho comes in their line of attack – no one is exempt!Sachin Gupta has a vast experience in article writing andpublishing on travel and tourism topics. Get more invaluableinformation on Songkran, Songkran 2012, Water Festival Thailand, Songkran Festival andSongkran 2012 Dates visit http://www.journeymart.com
