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Chiang Mai Songkran Festival
Songkran or water festival considered as traditional New Year celebration of Thailand, has long been a tremendous Thai tradition for generations and is world-famous for its grand water splashing festival.
Every year and across the country, Songkran will be held around the middle of April and regarding as a time for laughter and entertainment, for making merit and religious ceremonies, for families and friends, and the exceptional water fight.
Chiang Mai is one of the most outstanding and charming places in Thailand to participate in Songkran since the design of the city is very perfect. The Capital of Northern Thailand is surrounded by an ancient moat that is filled to the brim and surrounded by literally tens of thousands of revelers. The water fighting and splashing in Chiang Mai is on all sides of the moat and there are also large crowds on Huay Kaew Road. Kad Suan Kaew Plaza holds a Songkran event each year with thousands of fun-seekers dancing and playing and just enjoying life. The whole city is drowned in the ocean of fun and joy; the heat seems to matter no more to the thousands of tourists, tens of thousands of Thais all celebrating the frenzy that is Songkran festival.
Therefore, deciding to go for Songkran in Chiang Mai means you have promised yourself to get drenched from head to toe. The streets, especially around the moat, turn into a jammed whirl of water throwing and every street corner is possessed by a bunch of kids waiting to get you down with a large bucket and spray pumps. Getting on motorbike or Tuk-tuk will only be a trap for you to get soaked. So, the only remedy is joining the fun and getting your own water fight tools.
For Thai people, Songkran festival also gives a chance to cool of and let down their reserved manner. Everyone is in game during Songkran and you have a right to drench anyone. Although water taps and water tanks are provided all over the central area, you can also join in a crowd and locals as they are pleased to have you and you will find yourself a warm-welcomed by a group with an initial bucket of water. The day will only over when the night falls, so get ready and have fun.
Apart from the soaked and harmless battlefield of water splashing, another charm of Chiang Mai Songkran festival is a possession of significant religious ceremonies and rituals that people in Chiang Mai still keep hold of the old tradition. The festival will be divided into three days—April 13 (Wan Sangkhan Lhong: the last day of the old year), 14 (Wan Nao/ Wan Da: the preparation day) and 15 (Wan Phaya Wan: the day marking Thai New Year).
On the morning of April 13, people will go to temple to make merit and offer food to Buddhist monks. Some will carry sand to temple and build a small pagoda as it is believe that they will gain merit for life. After that, prepared a scented water to bath Phra Phutta Sihing, a reverend Buddha image of the north, for a blessing at Tha Pae gate and be ready for a parade of Songkran Lady.
Other important activities that Thai people and Chiang Mai locals will do during Songkran festival are to visit their elders in a family and to do a Rod Nam Dam Hua ceremony. Young people will pour the water on the elders’ hands to apologize for their improper deeds, show respect and gratitude, and ask for blessing. With these charming and meaningful rituals together with the fun of water-throwing, Chiang Mai, thus, becomes a nominated travel destination for summer getaway in Thailand.
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