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Time & Temperature

Thailand - Songkran Festival


Songkran Festival, that is held from 13th to 15 in April, the hottest season in Thailand. The festival is well-known as " Water Festival " also and very famous and popular as well as Loy Krathong Festival.

The period of Songkran Festival is a new year in Thailand, and the day before, they say that people have a big cleaning. (Same as a big cleaning for a new year on the 31th in Dec. in Japan. When you watch TV, you'll hear someone saying "Sawasdee pii mai" which means Happy New Year) in Thai.
Have a wild and wonderful time, and be careful if you go to this festival because it'll be packed with local people and tourists from overseas and they try to shoot water to everyone else !
Songkran Festival: The scenery of Siam Square in Bangkok, packed with local people and tourists from overseas. All wet !
Around this period, it will be really crowded to go to Thailand or Bangkok by air. Mostly, people go back home but a lot of people go on a trip also because of consecutive holidays. (This also is same as Obon in Japan.)
(I hear that Songkran Festival is not only in Thailand but in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, as well.)


In this period, not only the festival but people have some special rituals at home like below:
  1. Bang Sakun:
    Think of their ancestors or people who passed away.
  2. Rod Nam Dam Hua:
    Visit to older or respectable people and bless them with pouring sweet]scented water on their hands.

This part shows pictures of Songkran Festival in 2013, 2008, and 2005.


[Songkran] Scenery - Siam Square

Now, let's go to the Songkran Festival !
You must be curious about what they are doing in the water festival, right ?

This section shows Siam Square, the trendsetting area in Bangkok like Harajuku or Shibuya in Japan. You'll see what's happening during the festival period.

Siam Square is close to the Siam station of BTS Skytrain. Now, let's go ! (Apr in 2013)
Wow, really crowded ! Looking down from the station, you'll see this scenery.
A parade is going on on the street. Very long !
Wow, really crowded !
Looking down from the station, you'll see this scenery.
A parade is going on on the street
A parade is going on on the street. Very long !
You have to buy a weapon, water gun to fight ! :D
I chose Doraemon tanked water gun. What about you !?
Nothing starts without a water gun !
You have to buy a weapon, water gun to fight ! :D
Choose one for yourself !
I chose Doraemon tanked water gun. What about you !?
The shop staff gave water into the tank. Now, ready to go !
People, ground, all wet !
Even if watching around, shop staff will shoot you ! :D
Now, ready to go !
The shop staff gave water into the tank.
Looking around ...
People, ground, all wet !
Even if watching around, ..
Shop staff will shoot you ! :D
Not the main street yet but the street is full of people. Unbelievable !
Packed on the street ! Wow, can't walk.
Not the main street yet !
Not the main street yet but the street is full of people. Unbelievable !
Wow, no space to walk !
Packed on the street ! Wow, can't walk.
Can you imagine that they shoot water to everyone else in the crowed. Amazing Thailand ! :D
You have no choice but walk following them.
Can you imagine that they shoot water to everyone else in the crowed. Amazing Thailand ! :D
They are shooting water to each other.
The couple or family is shooting water back ! She is using a water gun with a tank on her back.
To each other
They are shooting water to each other.
Shooting back !
The couple or family is shooting water back ! She is using a water gun with a tank on her back.
Hey, hurry to put water !
They don't care but shoot water even if you are taking a picture.
Refueling stop
Hey, hurry to put water !
Don't care
They don't care but shoot water even if you are taking a picture.
Wow, big water guns ! They get on the train with the guns in this period. :D
To protect your mobile phone from water, you can buy a water-proof case and keep it in it.
Big guns !
Wow, big water guns ! They get on the train with the guns in this period. :D
Keep your mobile phone
To protect your mobile phone from water, you can buy a water-proof case and keep it in it.
The scenery of the BTS Skytrain station.
Don't forget to drain the water from you weapon.
Around the gate of the station. Now, where are they going next ?
Go back to the station
The scenery of the BTS Skytrain station.
Drain the water !
Don't forget to drain the water from you weapon.
Now, where the next ?
Around the gate of the station. Now, where are they going next ?

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[Songkran] Scenery - Khaosan Street

The scenery of Khaosan Street in Bangkok. Everyone is soaked with water and white powder. Let's check what they are doing in the festival ! :D
The scenery of Khaosan Street in Bangkok. (Apr in 2008) Everyone is soaked with water and white powder. Let's check what they are doing in the festival ! :D

  • About Khaosan Street:
    It's famous for the cheapest price of hotels in East-South Asia and looks like it's called " Sacred place for backpackers. By the way, "Khaosan" means "white rice". There used to be rice wholesalers along the street.
A lot of people enjoy walking in the festival.
A lot of people enjoy walking in the festival.
A lot of people enjoy walking in the festival.
Everyone is soaked with water and white powder.
You'll be all white with white powder.
Scenery on the street 1
Everyone is soaked with water and white powder.
Covered all in white 1
You'll be all white with white powder.
Everyone is soaked with water and white powder.
To get rid of white powder, songkran festival by herself ..? :D
Very cheerful boys and girls.
Scenery on the street 2
Everyone is soaked with water and white powder.
Covered all in white 2
To get rid of white powder, songkran festival by herself ..? :D
Fun !
Very cheerful boys and girls.
Even if you are just walking on the street, you'll be soaked with water also. Those who are walking are also attacking back.
Water fight while riding on cars also.
Hosing down people !
Attack from the car
Even if you are just walking on the street, you'll be soaked with water also. Those who are walking are also attacking back.
Offense and defense on cars
Water fight while riding on cars also.
Attack by a hose
Hosing down people !

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[Songkran] The Golden Mount - Wat Saket

On this hill, there is a temple called Wat Saket and it provides a 360 degree view of Bangkok.
Welcome to The Golden Mount - Wat Saket !

You may notice a golden chedi on a high hill while going around tourist places in Bangkok. That is The Golden Mount.
On this hill, there is a temple called Wat Saket and it provides a 360 degree view of Bangkok. (You have to go up the stairs with about 300 steps, though. :D )

The pictures below shows The Golden Mount and Wat Saket around Songkran Festival in 2008.
A lot of bells like at Wat Phra That Doi Tung in Chiang Rai and so on.
The appearance of the Golden Mount. It looks not so big but actually it's pretty big.
A lot of people visit here and pray.
A lot of bells
A lot of bells like at Wat Phra That Doi Tung in Chiang Rai and so on.
The Golden Mount !
The appearance of the Golden Mount. It looks not so big but actually it's pretty big.
Around the Chedi 1
A lot of people visit here and pray.
You'll have a 360 degree view of Bangkok.
The speaker sings, "Donate and you'll go to the heaven. ! :D
Pra Barom Saree Rikkataad.
They say it houses bones of Buddha.
Around the Chedi 2
You'll have a 360 degree view of Bangkok.
Donation box
The speaker sings, "Donate and you'll go to the heaven. ! :D
Pra Barom Saree Rikkataad
They say it houses bones of Buddha.
A lot of people visit to pray.
People pray to the Buddha statue. Some put golden leaves on it.
Pray 1
A lot of people visit to pray.
Pray to the Buddha statue
People pray to the Buddha statue. Some put golden leaves on it.
A lot of people come to pray.
Kids enjoy playing games in the good old days; board games.
Pray 2
A lot of people come to pray.
A game in old days 1
Kids enjoy playing games in the good old days; board games.
Greeting.
Dancing before the play (A little funny).
Hit their heads each other.
A game in old days 2
This game is called "Bald Head Smashing". People plays while their heads hit each other.
From the picture left: Greet, Dance before the play (A little funny), Hit their heads each other.
This game shows in Thai Human Imagery Museum in Nakhon Pathom, west of Bangkok.
Jumping rope.
A lot of people are enjoying board games.
Rolling a wheel with a stick.
A game in old days 3
Kids enjoy playing old day games; jumping rope, rolling a wheel with a stick and board games.

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 [Songkran] Songkran at home

Songkran Festival is famous as " Water Festival ", however, not only enjoying the festival but people visit a temple and pray, purify Buddha statues, and have rituals called "Bang Sakun" to think of their ancestors, "Rod Nam Dam Hua" to bless older people.

This part shows pictures of "Bang Sakun" and "Rod Nam Dam Hua".
A ritual called "Bang Sakun" to think of their ancestors.
Small boxes called "Goat" with bones of their ancestors inside.
Bang Sakun 1
The picture left is one scene of "Bang Sakun". (The scene is at home of my wife, though. :D )
A monk was invited and they had him pray in front of small boxes called "Goat" with bones of their ancestors inside.
Write names of ancestors on some pieces of paper and burn them. By doing this, the pray will reach the ancestors.
Visit older or respectable people and bless them with pouring sweet-scented water, called " Naam Aob Thai "on their hands.
The pictures above are showing the scene of pouring water.
Visit older or respectable people and bless them with pouring sweet-scented water, called " Naam Aob Thai "on their hands.
The pictures above are showing the scene of pouring water.
Bang Sakun 2
Write names of ancestors on some pieces of paper and burn them. By doing this, the pray will reach the ancestors.
Rod Nam Dam Hua
Visit older or respectable people and bless them with pouring sweet-scented water, called " Naam Aob Thai "on their hands.
The pictures above are showing the scene of pouring water.

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[Songkran] Parades of Songkran Festival

Now, you'll see what kind parade will be taken place in the Songkran Festival. Let's see some scenes of the parades here.

  • 1) The parade on the street near the BTS Skytrain Siam station. (Apr in 2013)
  • 2) The parade on Racha Damneon street. (Apr in 2008)
    Different areas of Bangkok and various countries took part in this occasion. Japan also joined it. Elephants also come onstage with a rumbling of the ground. :D
A parade on the street near the BTS Skytrain Siam station. (Apr in 2013)
Some ordinary people walk together with big water guns. See ? :D
A parade on the street near the BTS Skytrain Siam station. (Apr in 2013)
Some ordinary people walk together with big water guns. See ? :D
They fight shooting water to each other every time when a taxi, Tuk-tuk stops nearby.
The appearance of the hell or something in the parade.
Bicycles run in the parade with umbrellas. Chiangmai produces a lot of umbrellas.
Tuk-tuk fighting !
They fight shooting water to each other every time when a taxi, Tuk-tuk stops nearby.
Hell ?
The appearance of the hell or something in the parade.
Bicycle with an umbrella
Bicycles run in the parade with umbrellas. Chiangmai produces a lot of umbrellas.
The parade on Racha Damneon street. (Apr in 2008)
The parade on Racha Damneon street. (Apr in 2008)
Different areas of Bangkok and various countries took part in this occasion. Japan also joined it. Elephants also come onstage with a rumbling of the ground. :D
Mr. Elephants make an entrance. Having a national flag of Thailand on their skin and beautiful decoration. The elephants look they are very proud of themselves.. :D
Dance of peacock ?
Elephants !
Mr. Elephants make an entrance. Having a national flag of Thailand on their skin and beautiful decoration. The elephants look they are very proud of themselves.. :D
Peacock ?
Dance of peacock ?
Cloud car runs with dragons on it.
Marching in Thai traditional clothes.
Dragons on the cloud
Cloud car runs with dragons on it.
Thai traditional clothes
Marching in Thai traditional clothes.
Thai musical instrument called "Can". It looks like a Japanese old musical instrument, right ?
The front is horses and the behind is small shrines with Buddha sculptures.
Thai musical instrument called "Can"
Thai musical instrument called "Can". It looks like a Japanese old musical instrument, right ?
Buddha sculptures with flying horses.
The front is the horses and the behind is small shrines with Buddha sculptures.
A brass band joins and marches.
Vehicle called "Saam Lor".
Students
A brass band joins and marches.
Vehicle called "Saam Lor"
"Saam" is Three, "Lor" means wheel. That is a tricycle.
This is Japan. Cute girls in Yukata with Sakura, cherry blossoms, right ? :D
Lanterns and traditional musical instruments
Looks like a decoration of Japanese " Bon Odori " (Bon Dance)
Sakura and Yukata !
This is Japan. Cute girls in Yukata with Sakura, cherry blossoms, right ? :D
Lanterns and traditional musical instruments
Looks like a decoration of Japanese " Bon Odori " (Bon Dance)
Having a national flag of Thailand on their skin and beautiful decoration. It looks they are very proud of themselves.
This is China. I got it. :D
Tourist police
Mr. Elephants make an entrance
Having a national flag of Thailand on their skin and beautiful decoration. It looks they are very proud of themselves.
Must be
This is China. I got it. :D
Tourist police
I like their motor bikes. Kind of cute. :D
Hello in Thai folk clothes.
This national flag is .... which country ? :)
This is India. I like their clothes.
Thai folk clothes
Hello in Thai folk clothes.
Well, this is, ...
This national flag is .... which country ? :)
India
This is India. I like their clothes.
A little scary men (women ?) are marching. :)
Movie stars or something like that ?
Miss Thailand shows up. The crowd gets excited. :D
Wow, what.. ?
A little scary men (women ?) are marching. :D
Who are they ?
Movie stars or something like that ?
Miss Thailand
Miss Thailand shows up. The crowd gets excited. :D
Participants come riding on wonderful cars.
Participants of the parade. They wear various kinds of clothes.
The view in a little distance. Crowded !
This is not related to this parade but a temple " Wat Rajanadda ", taken near the parade.
 If you want to know more about this temple, check "Wat Rajanadda".
Various vehicles
Participants come riding on wonderful cars.
Ready to go ?
Participants of the parade. They wear various kinds of clothes.
A little distance
The view in a little distance. Crowded !
Wat Rajanadda
This is not related to this parade but a temple " Wat Rajanadda ", taken near the parade.
 If you want to know more about this temple, check "Wat Rajanadda".

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