Lanna Happenings: Water water everywhere - upcoming New Years festivities

Mid April in Southesat Asia and Yunann Province of China marks traditional Buddhist New Years festivities.
Known as Songkran in Thailand, Bun Pi Mai in Laos, Chol Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, Thingyan in Burma and for the Dai (Lue) people of Xipsongpanna The Water Splashing Festival. All of these events involve merit making, paying respect to elders and the use of water either via gentle spashing or industrial strength dousing. Some of the more exuberant places to watch and participate include: Chiang Mai in Thailand, Luang Prabang in Laos, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Rangoon in Burma and Jinghong in Xipsongpanna. Many of these venues become overwhelmed with visitors and to the consternation of many the emphasis seems to have evolved away from more genteel activities to one of general revelry and heavy duty water heaving. In any case participants save for those who may be unprepared seem to have an overwhelmingly good time especially given the hot weather typical of the season.

Paying respects to ones elders

Returning sand "taken" from the temple

In fact a rather enjoyable time can be had in the smaller towns and villages where both traditional and more raucous activities take place. As is well known this is a time for families to gather and hence places like Bangkok empty out as people return to their home villages to make merit and visit family members and friends they perhaps have not seen since the previous New Year.Here in Ban Ngao the site of Lanna Thai Villa even though deep in rural Chiang Rai a wide variety of activities take place over the 3 main days of Songkran. and the additional days which seem to get tacked on to either end. Sand chedis are constructed in village temples,
Buddha images are washed with scented water and village elders honored with scented water poured over their hands accompanied by wishes for good health, a long life and prosperity. Often the village sponsors fun events such as boat races, pole boxing, greased pole climbs etc. These of course are augmented by trips to nearby district centers to enter circuits of vehicles from which pitched water battles take place. Even these centers will have parades of Buddha images drawn from local temples which in turn are washed by those standing along the parade route. All in all a fun time to visit Northern Thailand.