Songkran, water and more water

Even the police got wet

There is Thai saying that water and rivers are like blood for Thais. Naturally, this has much to do with farming, still the mainstay for most of Thailand’s population, as it has been for thousands of years. Thai farmers, especially, have a very high respect for water, and express this respect in many ways, Songkran being the best-known of them.
The word Songkran comes from the Sanskrit for “a move” or “a change”. Until 1940 Songkran was when Thais officially marked the start of the year. Although this is no longer the case – Thais now mark the New Year on December 31-January 1 – Songkran is still Thailand’s most popular celebration, taking place each year from April 13 to 15.

The classic Songkran scene is of grinning people hurling water at friends, neighbours and complete strangers. April is the hottest month in Thailand, so one reason for the water fights is simply to cool everyone down. Thais also believe that dousing someone with water will bring good luck to that person.

A gentle start

Heavily armed

The days of Songkran usually start quietly. People go to the wat to give food to the monks, to pray and to pour water (gently) on Buddha images. Later, people help with community work such as cleaning the temple area. Just before Songkran is also the time when most Thais do their “spring cleaning”, in the belief that a clean house at the start of the year will bring good things those who live in it.

Most businesses also close during the celebrations, allowing those living away from home to visit parents and family. They also take money and gifts to give to parents as a way of showing appreciation for all the work the parents put into taking care of them when they were growing up.
It is a very touching picture to see children and younger family members lining up to give water to their parents and grandparents. This, too, is done in a gentle way by pouring a small amount of water over the older person’s hands. The older person returns the gesture by wishing them good luck and prosperity.

Songkran for a six-year-old

Passapong Susangrat & his grandma

Passapong Susangrat, aged six and known to family and friends as “Turkey” has been learning about Songkran at school. “When Songkran arrives this year, I’ll be out of school for the summer holiday. “My teacher told us to practice Songkran at home even though it’s not Songkran yet.” So Turkey asked his mother to help to organise a malai – a garland – to give to his grandmother, along with a small bowl of water.

“I went to grandma to pay respect and I give her the malai. Then I poured a small amount of water on her hands – mum had mixed some perfume into it to make it smell good. Grandma kissed me and wished me luck. She said I was a good boy and then she cried. I don’t know why…

“I can’t wait for the real Songkran to come so I can play water games with my cousins. I want mum to take me to Patong Beach to play Songkran in the sea. It should be fun. Last year, we played only in front of grandma’s shop-house in Phuket City. It was alright, though. I liked it when people tried to jump or run away for my water pistol,” Turkey laughs. “They jumped like grasshoppers.”

Songkran gets wheels – big wheels

Big Bike Festival in Patong

Twelve years ago, during Songkran, a group of about 300 local big-bike fans got together for the first time at a small resort called Friendship Beach on the road between Chalong and Rawai. The plan was to make this an annual event, bringing big-bike lovers and friends together at least once a year. The rumbling parade of big bikes – Harley Davidsons, big Hondas, BMWs and the like – was something that had never been seen before in Phuket.

Since then Bike Week, as it came to be known, has grown and grown. Three years later, the organizers had to move the function to Patong Beach because it was getting too big for Friendship Beach to handle. It had grown from 150 bikes in that first year to 600, and was no longer a local affair; the bikers now came from Malaysia, Singapore and as far afield as Canada, Britain, Scandinavia and the USA.

During Bike Week, participants hold activities to raise funds for charities or schools. In 1996, for example, the money went to a campaign to raise awareness of the need to use helmets when riding bikes. They also gave money to Baan Kho Aen School in the north of Phuket. In 2000, the money went into a campaign against the abuse of methamphetamine, or Ya Ba – crazy drug – in Thai, which at that time was a rapidly growing social problem in the country. They also gave money to the Patong Child Care Center.

A sweet girl learns to like big bikes

Jeab Hongwongpaisarn

Not everyone is so keen on the big bikes – at least not at first. Jeab Hongwongpaisarn, an office worker, was hired to work during Bike Week last year as a PR girl for a whisky company that was sponsoring the event. “As a Thai girl who had never had anything to do with bikers, I felt out of place at first. I was surrounded mostly by guys, both Thai and foreign. Big bikes are not really a Thai thing, I don’t think – not for me, anyway. The people look … I don’t know … kind of rough. But before long I realised that these were actually nice, normal people – they were just into big bikes,” she says.
“Phuket Bike Week was fun. I learned that you don’t have to love big bikes to join in; it’s just a fun occasion that brings together people from all over the world to have a good time and maybe learn about new culture – the big bike culture.”

Tips

During Songkran, leave your camera, iPod, mobile phone and any other machinery you value at the hotel or at home. You will definitely get wet – and water and delicate equipment are not a good mix.
The TAT promises that you will find plenty of fresh water to clean up after joining the seawater fights on the beach. In fact, the fresh water will find you. So jump in.

Did you know?

Songkran Day – April 13 – is also known as Family Day and as the Day of the Elderly.

Chess on the Beach

Dates: March 27 - April 1, 2007
Venue: Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa, Patong Beach
Contact: www.bangkokchess.com

The 7th Bangkok Chess Club Open will be held March 27 - April 1, 2007 at Phuket Graceland Resort & Spa, Patong Beach. This event is looking to be the Thailand’s biggest and strongest tournament ever. At the moment, 145 players – ranging in age from six to 65 and representing 35 countries – have registered. The organizer expects 160 players to join this year’s tournament. More information, please visit www.bangkokchess.com

Phuket Gay Festival

Phuket Gay Festival 2006

Dates: March 29 - April 1, 2007
Venue: Patong Beach
Contact: Patong Municipal Office Tel: +66 (0)7 634 2080

Possibly the island’s most colourful festival, the Phuket Gay Festival, March 29 - April 1, 2007, needs no description – the name says it all. Patong beach comes alive with feathered, glitter-glue-covered festival participants, dancing, parading, partying and playing in the streets and on the beach. In its eighth year, the festival has become one of the biggest tourist happenings on the island and its international reputation grows yearly.

Songkran and Phuket Bike Week

Songkran 2006

Dates: April 12 - 16, 2007
Venue: Loma Park, Patong Beach, Soi Bangla and Jungceylon department store
Contact: TAT on Tel: +66 (0)7 621 2213

Songkran, the Thai New Year’s celebration, is a countrywide water fight. Phuket Bike Week is a gathering of leather-clad Harley (and Harley look-alike) enthusiasts atop rumbling beasts. Since no two things pair better than big motorcycles and water thrown by the bucketful, organizers merged the events. Come to see if the combination is more oil-and-water than burger-and-fries, but stay for the parades, live entertainment, two beauty contests, and an abundance of wild, watery mayhem. Join the crowds at various spots around Patong: Loma Park, the beach, the main drag (Soi Bangla), and Jungceylon department store.