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Thailand - Songkran Festival

Songkran Festival, that is held from 13th to 15 in April, the hottest season in Thailand. It's also famous for another name " Water Festival ".

Songkran Festival: The scenery of Khaosan Street in Bangkok.

The period of Songkran Festival is a new year in Thailand, and the day before, they say that people have a big cleaning.
(Same as a big cleaning for a new year on the 31th in Dec. in Japan.)

Around this period, it will be really crowded to go to Thailand or Bangkok by air.Mostly, people go back home but a lot of people go on a trip also because of consecutive holidays.
(This also is same as Obon in Japan.)
Songkran Festival is not only in Thailand but in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, also.

The festival is very famous, but in this period, not only the festival but people have some special rituals at home:

Bang Sakun
Think of their ancestors or people who passed away.
Rod Nam Dam Hua
Visit to older or respectable people and bless them with pouring sweet]scented water on their hands.

This part shows pictures of Songkran Festival in 2005 and 2008.

Scenery on the street
The Golden Mount - Wat Saket
Songkran in a house (Bang Sakun / Rod Nam Dam Hua)
The Parade

[Songkran] Scenery on the street
The scenery of Khaosan Street in Bangkok. Everyone is soaked with water and white powder. Let's check what they are doing in the festival ! :D The scenery of Khaosan Street in Bangkok. Everyone is soaked with water and white powder. Let's check what they are doing in the festival ! :D About Khaosan Street: It's famous for the cheapest price of hotels in East-South Asia and looks like it's called " Sacred place for backpackers. By the way, "Khaosan" means "white rice". There used to be rice wholesalers along the street.
Attack from the car (Even if you are just walking on the street, you'll be soaked with water also. Those who are walking are also attacking back.)	Offense and defense on cars (Water fight while riding on cars also)	Attack by a hose (Hosing down people !)	Water Gun (Kids have water guns and attack you !)
Attack from the car (Even if you are just walking on the street, you'll be soaked with water also. Those who are walking are also attacking back.)	Offense and defense on cars (Water fight while riding on cars also)	Attack by a hose (Hosing down people !)	Water Gun (Kids have water guns and attack you !)
Soaked ! (Everyone is soaked !)	Filling up water 1 (Filling up water from a big bucket on the street)	Filling up water 2 (Filling up water to the big bucket)	Fun ! (Very cheerful boys and girls)
Soaked ! (Everyone is soaked !)	Filling up water 1 (Filling up water from a big bucket on the street)	Filling up water 2 (Filling up water to the big bucket)	Fun ! (Very cheerful boys and girls)
Covered all in white 1 (You'll be all white with white powder)	Covered all in white 2 (To get rid of white powder, songkran festival by herself ..? :D)	Scenery on the street (Everyone is soaked with water and white powder)	Selling water guns (A lot of water guns are ready)
Covered all in white 1 (You'll be all white with white powder)	Covered all in white 2 (To get rid of white powder, songkran festival by herself ..? :D)	Scenery on the street (Everyone is soaked with water and white powder)	Selling water guns (A lot of water guns are ready)

[Songkran] The Golden Mount - Wat Saket
This game is called "Bald Head Smashing". People plays while their heads hit each other. Welcome to The Golden Mount - Wat Saket ! You may notice a golden chedi on a high hill while going around tourist places in Bangkok. That is The Golden Mount. On this hill, there is a temple called Wat Saket and it provides a 360 degree view of Bangkok. (You have to go up the stairs with about 300 steps, though. :D ) The pictures below shows The Golden Mount and Wat Saket around Songkran Festival in 2008.
The Golden Mount You may notice a golden chedi on a high hill while going around tourist places in Bangkok.	Long stairs About 300 steps will take you to the temple, Wat Saket, on the hill.	A lot of bells A lot of bells like at Wat Phra That Doi Tung in Chiang Rai and so on.	Pra Barom Saree Rikkataad They say it houses bones of Buddha.
The Golden Mount You may notice a golden chedi on a high hill while going around tourist places in Bangkok.	Long stairs About 300 steps will take you to the temple, Wat Saket, on the hill.	A lot of bells A lot of bells like at Wat Phra That Doi Tung in Chiang Rai and so on.	Pra Barom Saree Rikkataad They say it houses bones of Buddha.
Pray A lot of people visit to pray.	Donation box The speaker sings, "Donate and you'll go to the heaven. ! :D	Around the Chedi 1 You'll see a Wonderful view of Bangkok.	Around the Chedi 2 You'll have a 360 degree view of Bangkok.
Pray A lot of people visit to pray.	Donation box The speaker sings, "Donate and you'll go to the heaven. ! :D	Around the Chedi 1 You'll see a Wonderful view of Bangkok.	Around the Chedi 2 You'll have a 360 degree view of Bangkok.
A game in old days 1 Greeting.	A game in old days 1 Dancing before the play (A little funny).	A game in old days 1 Hit their heads each other.	A game in old days 1 Hit their heads each other.
A game in old days 1 This game is called "Bald Head Smashing". People plays while their heads hit each other. From the picture left: Greet, Dance before the play (A little funny), Hit their heads each other. This game shows in Thai Human Imagery Museum in Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok.
Jumping rope.	Rolling a wheel with a stick.	Board games.	A lot of people are enjoying board games.
A game in old days 2 Kids enjoy playing old day games; jumping rope, rolling a wheel with a stick and board games.

[Songkran] Songkran in a house
The picture is one scene of " Bang Sakun ". (Invited a monk and had him pray in front of small boxes called " Goat " with bones of their ancestors inside.) Songkran Festival is famous as " Water Festival ", however, not only enjoying the festival but people visit a temple and pray, purify Buddha statues, having rituals called "Bang Sakun" to think of their ancestors, "Rod Nam Dam Hua" to bless older people. This part show pictures of " Bang Sakun " and " Rod Nam Dam Hua ". The picture above is one scene of " Bang Sakun ". (The scene is at home of my wife, though. :D ) (Invited a monk and had him pray in front of small boxes called " Goat " with bones of their ancestors inside.)
Bang Sakun 1 (A little blur, but boxes called " Goat " with bones of ancestors inside)	Bang Sakun 2 (Write names of ancestors on some pieces of paper and burn them. By doing this, the pray will reach the ancestors.)	Rod Nam Dam Hua (Visit older or respectable people and bless them with pouring sweet-scented water, called " Naam Aob Thai "on their hands. The pictures above are showing the scene of pouring water.)	Rod Nam Dam Hua (Visit older or respectable people and bless them with pouring sweet-scented water, called " Naam Aob Thai "on their hands. The pictures above are showing the scene of pouring water.)
Bang Sakun 1 (A little blur, but boxes called " Goat " with bones of ancestors inside)	Bang Sakun 2 (Write names of ancestors on some pieces of paper and burn them. By doing this, the pray will reach the ancestors.)	Rod Nam Dam Hua (Visit older or respectable people and bless them with pouring sweet-scented water, called " Naam Aob Thai "on their hands. The pictures above are showing the scene of pouring water.)

[Songkran] The Parade
Songkran Festival starts on 13 April and there was a parade beforehand. (Racha Damneon street) Songkran Festival starts on 13 April and there was a parade beforehand. This part shows some scenes of it. Different areas of Bangkok and various countries took part in this occasion. Japan also joined it. :) Elephants also come onstage with a rumbling of the ground. :D (Picture: Racha Damneon street)
Parade 1 (Tourist police)	Parade 2 (Participants of the parade. They wear various kinds of clothes.)	Parade 3 (Participants come riding on wonderful cars.)	Parade 4 (Miss Thailand shows up. The crowd gets excited. :D )
Parade 1 (Tourist police)	Parade 2 (Participants of the parade. They wear various kinds of clothes.)	Parade 3 (Participants come riding on wonderful cars.)	Parade 4 (Miss Thailand shows up. The crowd gets excited. :D )
Parade 5 (Is this an old tale or something ?)	Parade 6 (Mr. Elephants make an entrance. Having a national flag of Thailand on their skin and beautiful decoration. The elephants look they are very proud of themselves.. :D )	Parade 6 (Mr. Elephants make an entrance. Having a national flag of Thailand on their skin and beautiful decoration. The elephants look they are very proud of themselves.. :D )	Parade 7 (Movie stars or something like that ?)
Parade 5 (Is this an old tale or something ?)	Parade 6 (Mr. Elephants make an entrance. Having a national flag of Thailand on their skin and beautiful decoration. The elephants look they are very proud of themselves.. :D )		Parade 7 (Movie stars or something like that ?)
Parade 8 (A brass band joins and marches.)	Parade 9 (Thai musical instrument called " Can ". It looks like a Japanese old musical instrument, right ? :D )	Parade 10 (Marching while playing " Can " and other musical instruments.)	Parade 11 (Hello in Thai folk clothes.)
Parade 8 (A brass band joins and marches.)	Parade 9 (Thai musical instrument called " Can ". It looks like a Japanese old musical instrument, right ? :D )	Parade 10 (Marching while playing " Can " and other musical instruments.)	Parade 11 (Hello in Thai folk clothes.)
Parade 12 (Marching in Thai traditional clothes)	Parade 13 (This also in Thai traditional clothes)	Parade 14 (Vehicle called " Saam Lor ". " Saam " is " Three ", " Lor " means " wheel ". That is a tricycle.)	Parade 15 (Dance of peacock ?)
Parade 12 (Marching in Thai traditional clothes)	Parade 13 (This also in Thai traditional clothes)	Parade 14 (Vehicle called " Saam Lor ". " Saam " is " Three ", " Lor " means " wheel ". That is a tricycle.)	Parade 15 (Dance of peacock ?)
Parade 16 (What are those small umbrellas ? :D )	Parade 17 (A little scary men (women ?) is marching. :) )	Parade 18 (Buddha sculptures with flying horses. The front is the horses and the behind is a small shrines with Buddha sculptures.)	Parade 18 (Buddha sculptures with flying horses. The front is the horses and the behind is a small shrines with Buddha sculptures.)
Parade 16 (What are those small umbrellas ? :D )	Parade 17 (A little scary men (women ?) is marching. :) )	Parade 18 (Buddha sculptures with flying horses. The front is the horses and the behind is a small shrines with Buddha sculptures.)
Parade 19 (A dragon on the cloud.)	Parade 20 (Hello with Buddha.)	Parade 21 (Looks like a decoration of Japanese " Bon Odori " (Bon Dance) :D )	Parade 22 (This national flag is .... which country ? :) )
Parade 19 (A dragon on the cloud.)	Parade 20 (Hello with Buddha.)	Parade 21 (Looks like a decoration of Japanese " Bon Odori " (Bon Dance) :D )	Parade 22 (This national flag is .... which country ? :) )
Parade 23 (This is Japan. :D )	Parade 24 (This is China. I got it. :) )	Parade 25 (This is India.)	Parade 26 (This is not related to this parade but a temple " Wat Rajanadda ", taken near the parade.)
Parade 23 (This is Japan. :D )	Parade 24 (This is China. I got it. :) )	Parade 25 (This is India.)	Parade 26 (This is not related to this parade but a temple " Wat Rajanadda ", taken near the parade. If you want to know more about this temple, check "Wat Rajanadda".)

Home > Photos (Thailand) > Songkran Festival

Thailand - Songkran Festival

[Songkran] Scenery on the street

[Songkran] The Golden Mount - Wat Saket

[Songkran] Songkran in a house

[Songkran] The Parade