Songkran Festival (Thai New Year)

Last weekend there was an extended holiday with Friday and Monday as days off. Actually some people had Tuesday off as well. It is the Songkran Holiday and one of the biggest holidays for the Thais. It is known as something like the holiday of water. They celebrate the new calendar year by going back home and spending time with their family. They also spend the whole weekend having water fights and putting a talcum powder on each others faces. One of the biggest parties is down on Khao San road where there are streets filled with people shooting water guns and putting this talcum powder on people. The actual ritual is to have an elder or person of respect sit with a bowl of water that is scented and has flowers in the bowl. Then, you pour water through the hands of the elder and make a wish or blessing for them for the coming year. After that you put the talcum powder on the person's face. I am not sure if the powder is part of the blessing or if it is something you do. I have pictures from our office and then Khao San road. I was flying out to Singapore this weekend so I only got to spend a couple hours at Khao San. I wish I could have experienced a little more, but there are still some good pictures.

Songkran Pictures

Songkran Office