Songkran 2008 in Chiang Mai
In case you somehow missed it, here is a video from the Songkran festival in Chiang Mai. Songkran is the Thai new year. The new year is 2551, which is the time since the Buddha’s life, just as we measure our years against that of Christ. Something interesting about Songkran festivals is the presence of water.
People splash each other with water and it has become quite a sport over the years. The water ritual started off as something much more meaningful, though. The role of water in many rituals, including this one, is symbolic of washing away the old and sullied parts of life so we can properly arrive in the new, glorious time. This is also seen in our own culture in the form of baptism.
Enjoy!
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