Songkran Festival 2012
- Songkran is the tradition Thai New Year. The festival offers not only the fun water throwing, please help protect the environment.
- The purpose of bathing or splashing water in the Songkran Festival is to give and request for blessing through water, not for rigorous water war.
- Applying soft chalk power called "Din Saw Phong" on one's face or body is traditionally an individual's choice of dressing and, thus, a personal business. You should not offer unsolicited help with it. To touch others without their permission is considered an ill manner by civilised Thais.
- The proper bathing is divided into two categories:
- The bathing rite for the elders (aged over 60 years old, according to the old custom) as a tribute of respect and for blessings. As a youngster, you can pour scented water onto the hands of the elders with out pronouncing any blessings. The elders in return will bestow their best wishes upon you.
- The bathing rite for the peers or juniors. You should ask for permission before gently pouring the scented water over the person's shoulder and down his/her back and uttering words of blessing for the New Year. However, if you are close friends, you can enjoy splashing water on each other as you wish yet with appropriate manners and moral and safety cautions.
- The water used for bathing and splashing is regarded as sacred. Thus, it must be clean water. "Nam Ob" (water saturated with perfumes, either of Thai or Western origin) or scented water with floral pedals, and NOT dirty water or ice.
- Traditionally, upon the bathing ritual, the elders are presented with toilet items, namely clothes, "Pha-nung" (loin cloth) , handkerchiefs, towels, soap, perfumes and powder. However, not every aforementioned article is required. You can prepare the toilet gift set as you see fit and may not add other presents such as flowers and sweet.
- Making obeisance is the highest form of respect by prostrating oneself with palms pressed together and them bowing until the pressed palms, arms and forehead touch the floor in front of the person or the image one pays respect to. The palms must be kept pressed together and separated when making obeisance to the Buddha image or monks only.
- To bathe the Buddha image or any idol, it is more appropriate to pour the scented water on other parts of the Buddha image than on its head.
