Wan Lai Pattaya Songkran Festival 2008

Dates: 18th - 19th April 2008

Songkran Festival is the traditional Thai New Year, it is the time when Thais go the Temples offering food to the Buddhist monks, freeing birds or turtles back into the wild (It is believed if you free a turtle it will give you a longer life), houses are spring-cleaned, scented water is sprinkled on their elders as a sign of respect!

Songkran is internationally famous and well known from the water dousing that goes on throughout Thailand. Children and adults alike stand along the roadside to douse passers by with water and talcum powder. The backs of the trucks are filled with large barrels of water which is promptly dispatched over everyone they pass by as they drive slowly along the streets. Those that venture out will not escape a very thorough soaking, but its great fun and very refreshing as it's the peak of the hot season.

Songkran days are also without a doubt family days and where possible the families leave the big cities to spend time with their families and pay respect in recognition of everything they did for them. The traditional greeting is 'Sawadee Pi Mai', which means "Happy New Year".

Wan Lai Festival

As the heat in Thailand intensifies once the month of April comes, Thai ancestors were wise enough to initiate the Songkran Festival as a way to cool off from the heat, celebrating Thai New Year at the same time. In the central region Songkran is usually held on the 13th, 14th and 15th of April whilst in the east the activities commence on the 18th and 19th April as "Wan Lai" (Flowing Day) Jomtien and Pattaya hold their festival on the 19th with activities such as water pouring for the elders, processions and the fun of soaking each other with water, foreigners do not escape they are a prime target.

Main Events

• The building of mini sand Pagodas
• Bathing rituals of Buddha images
• Scented lustral water pouring over the hands of the Elders
• Songkran parade, cultural presentations and performance
• Beauty contest
• And of course water dousing.

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