Song Kran

Thai Buddhist New Year festival held in mid-April. People wear garlands of jasmine buds, buy and release birds, and splash each other with water to symbolize new life. Talcum powder is applied to the face and body to protect the wearer from evil. Water scented with flower petals is used to bathe images of the Buddha and poured over the hands of parents and the elderly as a mark of respect and to seek New Year blessing. The Buddhist laity make offerings to temples and monasteries, and build sand ‘pagodas’ in the temple grounds, as symbols of their service.

Asian countries do not all share the same lunar calendar system. In the Thai calendar, Song Kran marks the movement of the sun from one side of the zodiac to another. The festival derives from ancient Thai astrology and agricultural culture.