Songkran (Thailand)
thai new year songkran thai เทศกาลสงกรานต์ pronounced tʰêːtsākāːn sǒŋkrāːn also known songkran festival songkran splendour thai new year national holiday songkran april every year holiday period extends april thai cabinet extended festival nationwide seven day – april enable citizen travel home holiday holiday observed – april april fell saturday songkran extended almost entire month starting first april ending twentyfirst departing traditional day format new year many calendar southeast south asia keeping buddhist calendar also coincides new year hindu calendar vishu bihu pohela boishakh pana sankranti vaisakhi new year take place around time new year celebration many region south asia like china dai people yunnan province india lao cambodia myanmar nepal sri lanka siam new year officially celebrated january songkran official new year switched fixed date april date shifted january traditional thai new year songkran transformed national holiday celebration famous public water fight framed ritual cleansing become quite popular among thai foreigner songkran thai word derived sanskrit संक्रान्ति saṅkrānti meaning move movement passing astrological passage derives movement sun one position another zodiac according literal meaning sanskrit songkran occurs every month however period thai people refer songkran happens sun move pisces aries zodiac correct name period actually maha songkran great songkran coincides arrival new year songkran festival therefore celebration new year accordance solar calendar celebration cover period three day april regarded maha songkran day sun move aries zodiac last day old year next day april called wan nao transitional day old new year april called wan thaloeng sok thai วันเถลิงศก begin new era year new year day thai cabinet fixed songkran – april despite correct starting date april songkran however traditionally computed according method described suriyayart thai สุริยยาตร์ thai version surya siddhanta celebration start sun enters aries according sidereal zodiac system called maha songkran day thai วันมหาสงกรานต์ final day mark new solar year called wan thaloengsok thai วันเถลิงศก astrologer local royal make prediction economy agriculture rainfall political affair according observation day king chief royal astrologer monarch behalf issued official notification new year public announcement called prakat songkran thai ประกาศสงกรานต์ songkran notification contained information maha songkran thaloengsok lunisolar calendar religious royal ceremony government strictly adhered announcement arranged ceremony according computation made royal astrologer according scripture year equal day word solar year last kammaja thai กัมมัช lit one produced karma kammaja equal second kammaja corresponds solar day timekeeping began kali yuga started bce − ce start year possible compute number day since kali yuga commenced using following formula × k e × c e × b e displaystyle sdfrac time leftkerightfrac time leftcerightfrac time leftberight k e displaystyle ke c e displaystyle ce b e displaystyle denote kali era common era buddhist era respectively displaystyle sd suriyayart day number vary according calendar era used integer result count day new year day remainder indicates time new year begin kammaja measured previous midnight owing huge day number calculation new calendar era devised solve problem including minor era corresponds ce ke following equation follows day since start kali yuga remainder division suggests new year started kammaja previous midnight corresponds day hour minute second word started sunday march ce proleptic gregorian calendar julian day new year computed according following formula j n e w e r × e × c e − displaystyle jdmathrm newyear frac lefttimes merightfrac lefttimes leftcerightright number converted back date using algorithm see julian day maha songkran day computed either lengthy process subtracting j n e w e r displaystyle jdmathrm newyear day day hour minute second rewritten j n g k r n × e − × c e − − displaystyle jdmathrm songkran frac lefttimes merightfrac lefttimes leftcerightright solar year last kammaja day every year however gregorian year last average kammaja difference kammaja minute second accumulates every year causing shift songkran towards end calendar year maha songkran april april april april respectively nowadays royal palace ceased issue prakat songkran replacing small calendar booklet given public new year day government saving bank still print onepage lunisolar calendar different multiplepage solar calendar commonly seen calendar feature image nang songkran vehicle subordinate led chinese zodiac animal holding flag thai script zodiac also contains piece comprehensive information correct songkran day religious day astrologer especially northern thailand still issue songkran notification containing prediction information chiang mai provincial council decided defy governmentset holiday rescheduling ceremony according correct calculation following table list start end date songkran festival obtained formula discussed chinese zodiac year also given since also used thai astrology however chinese zodiac chinese astrology change lichun chinese new year february thai astrology us first day fifth lunar month roughly new moon late–march early–april cut date astrologer us zodiac last year origin songkran festival lie buddhist folk myth non canonical jataka related harvest spring prosperous city sukhavati suvannabhumi bodistva born household poor farmer upon time indra king devas looked city heaven felt sad seeing high level corruption found people respect elder behaved rudely didnt serve proper food medicine compassion needy helpless faith sila uposath fun sin faith donation greedy wealth faith dhamma made business dhamma seeing decline dhamma said glorysiri human lie faith dhamma glory without dhamma affirmation truth people city immediately lost glory proper rain water food scarcity prevailed extreme drought skinburning hot sun wave dirty bad smelling garbage filled home get saved suffering leadership bodistva people prayed mother earth siri asked siri cause solution misfortune compassion sympathy child told cause solution suffering told restoration faith dhamma end suffering gave divine piece fertile land divine seed mysterious song rain pot divine thanaka powder several colour apply skin cool body hot sun wave people pleaged observe sila upasotha guidance bodistva bodistva companion started cultivating divine land sowing divine seed used apply several colour thanaka powder water poured cool body heavy sun wave day crop grown day sun entered aries constellation produced adequate grain day harvest washed feets elder saluted served delicious food proper cloth donation made needy helpless hence dhamma restored people day indra king devas looked city suvannabhumi praised said glory human lie faith dhamma glory without dhamma affirmation truth immediately lost glory restored back people elected bodistva leader celebrated harvest day throwing water started playing several colour thanaka powder applying others body thus buddhist community south east asia remember celebrate day people clean house salute show respect elder washing feets serving delicious food proper clothing donation made monastery needy people play water different colour thanaka powder applied others body according buddhist scripture wat pho songkran originated death kapila brahma thai กบิลพรหม romanized kabilaphrom lit reddish brahma olden day wealthy man neighbor drunkard drunkard two son belittled rich man childless rich man humiliated beseeched sun moon god grant son attempt failed offered cooked rice tree god living banyan tree asked indra grant man wish child named thammabal thai ธรรมบาล also dhammapala lit one protects righteousness born thammabal clever child learned three veda bird language also taught people avoid sin kapila brahma learned child wanted test child cleverness god asked glory men sri located morning day evening loser would head chopped boy thought vain six day could find solution riddle lay beneath sugar palm tree overheard conversation pair eagle planned eat corpse lost bet female eagle asked mate whether knew answer answered morning sri appears face people wash face every morning noon sri chest people spray perfume every noon evening sri go foot people wash foot every evening thmmabal memorized answer gave kapila brahma next day lost kapila brahma summoned seven daughter told must cut head however head fell earth would create inferno would engulf world head thrown air rain would stop head dropped ocean seawater would dry prevent calamity told daughter place head elevated phan thungsa eldest child stored father head cave mount kailash every year sun enters aries one kapila brahma child called nang songkran thai นางสงกรานต์ lit lady songkran year angel form procession one take phan kapila brahma head lady stand sits reclines sleep back animal depending time dawn midday lady stand back conveyance midday sunset sit sunset midnight lady lie vehicle leaf eye open midnight sleep posture detail previously drawn part prakat songkran part lunisolar calendar procession last minute around mount meru subsequently called maha songkran distinguish songkran occur sun move one another zodiac simplicity name later shortened songkran following table list name characteristic nang songkran vary according day week maha songkran fall year de beschryving van japan history japan handwrote engelbert kaempfer reign king phetracha ayutthaya kingdom said songkran oldth century dutch de siamiten vieren den ecrſtcn en vyſtienden dag der maand zynde de dagen der nieuwe en volle maan sommige gaan ook op den cerſtcn dag van de kwartier maanen na de pagoden welk eeniger maaten overeenkomt met onzen zondag behalven deze hebben zy fommige jaarlykſche plechtige feeſtdagen voorbeeld een ’t begin van jaar genaamt sonkraen translation every first day th day month siamese people celebration first day new moon th day full moon siamese people went temple first day week similar sunday—holy communion also many annual ceremony siamese new year celebration called songkran sonkraen reign king borommakot – recorded ancient royal ceremony siamese new year observance called maha songkran day traditioninherited past generation king ayutthaya kingdom ceremony royal forming sand stupa royal ornament sprinkling water onto statue buddha graven image offering food monk procession sand stupa parade temple royal musical fanfare also establishing almshouse assignment subsequently said concise royal chronicle ayutthaya kingdom royal forming sand stupa reign king borommakot อนึ่งเมื่อครั้ง แผ่นดิน สมเด็จพระพุทธเจ้าหลวงในพระบรมโกศนั้น ครั้นวันขึ้นปีใหม่โหรถวายฤกษ์เป็นวันมหาสงกรานต์ เจ้าพนักงานได้ก่อพระทรายหน้าพระวิหารหลวงวัดพระศรีสรรเพ็ชญ์และเครื่องราชวัติฉัตรธงเครื่องประดับพระทรายนั้น เจ้าพนักงานได้เบิกสิ่งของให้แก่ช่างเขียนทำ และพระทรายนั้นช่างเขียนได้ตัด เขียนตัดเส้นระบายสี หรือตัดพระทรายให้เป็นรูปทรง ครั้นรุ่งขึ้นเพลาเช้าวันมหาสงกรานต์ ล้นเกล้าล้นกระหม่อมเสด็จไป ณ พระวิหารใหญ่ด้วย พระวิหารหลวงวัดพระศรีสรรเพ็ชญ์ หลังกลาง นิมนต์พระสงฆ์ราชาคณะอธิการวัด ได้ฉัน ณ พระวิหารใหญ่ฉลองพระทราย และที่พระทรายมหาธาตุและพระทรายบริวารนั้น วิเศษแต่งเทียนและบายศรี มี เทียนทองคำขวัญบูชาพระทรายองค์ละสำรับ ครั้นเสร็จ งาน พระทรายที่วัดพระศรีสรรเพ็ชญ์แล้วรุ่งขึ้นเป็นวันเนา เจ้าพนักงานจึงเอาทรายและเตียงเข้าไปให้ล้นเกล้าล้นกระหม่อมทรงก่อพระทราย ณ พระที่นั่งทรงปืนทรงก่อแล้วพนักงานยกพระทรายออกให้ช่างเขียนตัด และเครื่องประดับพระพรายนั้นให้เจ้าพนักงานปิดทองอังกฤษประดับ และช่าง ช่างเขียน เขียนทำประดับประดาพระทราย แล้วยกเข้าไปตั้งไว้ ณ พระที่นั่งทรงปืน ครั้นรุ่งขึ้นเพลาเช้าวันเถลิงศกเสด็จ ฯ ออกฉลองพระเจดีย์ทราย เตียงยกพระที่นั่งทรงปืน พระสงฑ์ฉันเสร็จแล้ว เจ้าพนักงานยกพระทรายออกมาตั้งไว้ ณ ศาลาลูกขุนท้ายสระ พันพุฒ พันเทพราช พันจันท์ เกณฑ์เครื่องเล่นและคู่แห่เดินเท้าและม้า ปี่กลองชนะ ธงสามชาย ปีกลองมลายู ปี่กลองจีนแห่พระทรายไปไว้ ฯ วัดวรโพธิ์ วัดพระราม วัดมงคลบพิตร เป็น อย่างธรรมเนียมสืบมาแต่ก่อน ดังนี้ translation royal ceremony phra sai wat phra si sanphet next day wan nao royal official offered sand big tray majesty king form sand shape stupa phra sai five hollow spear sky song peun throne hall royal official moved king’s sand stupa phra sai painter decorating british gold royal official moved place song peun throne hall buddhist monk already eaten morning meal royal official moved move phra sai king’s sand stupa phra sai place pavilion “lukkhun thai sara” three colonel named put thep rat chan marched parade pair flock walking riding horse royal official produced melody flute victory drum malaya drum chinese drum took three jaggededge flag parade move king’s sand stupa phra sai wat worapho wat pra ram wat mongkol bophit inherited tradition contemporary archive mentioned songkran festival siam reign king mongkut archive written jeanbaptiste pallegoix priest société de mission etrangères assigned coadjutor vicar apostolic lived siam said french il ont en outre durant le cours de l’année plusieurs jours de fêtes civiles ou religieuses qu’ils célèbrent avec grande pompe °songkran c’est leur nouvel qui tombe ordinairement dans leur cinquième mois le célèbre pendant trois jours ce n’est qu’à cette époque que le peuple apprend de astrologues si l’ange de l’année monte un tigre un bœuf un un cheval une chèvre un dragon ou quelque autre animal translation year siamese also several day civil religious festival celebrate great splendor °songkran siamese new year usually fall april fifth month brahman calendar held observance three day siamese people able acknowledge horoscope astrologer whether angel year ride tiger ox bear horse goat dragon animal festival songkran celebration rich symbolic tradition morning begin meritmaking visiting local temple offering food buddhist monk commonly practiced specific occasion performing water pouring buddha statue young elderly traditional ritual representing purification washing away one sin bad luck festival unity people moved away usually return home loved one elder paying reverence ancestor important part songkran tradition holiday known water festival major street closed traffic used arena water fight celebrant young old participate tradition splashing water traditional parade held venue lady songkran miss songkran crowned contestant clothed traditional thai dress general public floral shirt hawaiian shirt popular clothing item worn festival central region people region clean house songkran approach dress colorful clothing thai dress offering food monk people offer requiem ancestor people make merit offering giving sand temple construction repair form merit include releasing bird fish nowadays people also release kind animal buffalo cow phra pradaeng host traditional ceremony mon people parade colourful traditional outfit folklore performance south southerner three songkran rule work little possible avoid spending money hurt person animal tell lie north april baan siew si satchanalai district host theelephant procession ordination event colourful parade men dressed traditional clothes taken temple elephant northern thailand april celebrated gunfire firecracker repel bad luck next day people prepare food useful thing offer monk temple people go temple make merit bathe buddha statue pour water hand elder ask blessing east eastern region activity similar part thailand people east always make merit temple throughout day songkran festival create sand pagoda people making merit temple prepare food given elderly member family capital bangkok khao san road silom road siam square hub modern celebration songkran road closed traffic post equipped water gun bucket full water party run day night festival songkran mark beginning old siamese solar year custom bathe image buddha also monk old people young folk make occasion throwing water amidst much fun laughter songkran celebrated malaysian siamese community particularly state kedah kelantan penang perak perlis terengganu siamese located pana sankranti odia ପଣା ସଂକ୍ରାନ୍ତି also known maha bisuba sankranti traditional new year day festival buddhist hindu odisha india festival celebrated sangken northeastern area india bizu boisuk shangrai boisabi chittagong hill tract bangladesh traditional new year day indigenous hindu people buddhist community sangken festival celebrated tai people — khamti people khamyang phake turung people festival also celebrated singpho tikhak tangsa duoniya people sangken generally fall month naun ha fifth month year tai lunar calendar coinciding month april celebrated last day old year lunar new year begin day end festival vishu hindu religious festival celebrated mainly south indian state kerala part tamil nadu also fall timeframe predominantly harvest festival village south india especially karnataka festival called okhali okhli celebrated every household keep barrel water mixed chalk turmeric throw passersby date okhali coincides songkran thailand thingyan myanmar date holi north indian festival japan songkran festival observance held along hot spring festival beppu hatto onsen matsuri beppu city ōita prefecture called beppu songkran festival watersplashing observance also thai cultural fanfare occurred also held world wettest music festival japan songkran music festival combination thaijapan culture depiction long time relation songkran celebrated annually u territory wake island air force member american thai contractor including new york state commemorating asian american community celebration songkran april important cultural event state according assembly resolution songkran occurs time given bede festival ēostre—and easter weekend occasionally coincides songkran recently police statistic show death toll road accident double annual songkran holiday road death per day nonholiday period average road death per day songkran thailand among highest traffic fatality rate world along liberia congo tanzania approximately – percent accident occur long holiday period motorcycle accident people per year die motorcycle accident national council peace order ncpo say total people arrested vehicle impounded road safety checkpoint across country – april number offender arrested checkpoint risen failed wear crash helmet carried driving licence reacting number prime minister ordered stricter enforcement law interior minister said would propose greater effort raising awareness additional measure insisting traffic law already strictly enforced deputy prime minister prawit wongsuwan said would work harder ensure motorcyclist wore helmet period known locally dangerous day police arrested british tourist chiang mai first day songkran holiday april violating junta ban indecent dress water fight culprit topless wearing short pant shirt taken custody fined baht released temperature chiang mai reached °c day man arrested songkran posting video topless woman dancing songkran festival police said jakkrapatsorn akkarapokanan charged computer crime act posting yearold video woman rolling wet shirt let reveler touch breast jakkrapatsorn released baht bond police said attempted find topless woman video fine baht indecency one year statute limitation expired celebrate singapore celebrate singapore large twoday songkranstyle water festival planned singapore event promoted largest water festival party singapore however controversy emerged tourism authority thailand tat deputy governor tourism product vilaiwan twichasri claimed thailand hold exclusive right celebrate songkran planned consult official department intellectual property ministry commerce ministry culture discus potential lawsuit deputy governor view supported numerous thai citizen social medium website chai nakhonchai cultural promotion department chief pointed songkran traditional festival shared many country throughout southeast asia historian charnvit kasetsiri stated single nation claim ownership tradition march bangkok post reported singaporean government intervened festival content would waterthrowing water pistol public drinking festival also reduced oneday event holi – indian holiday famous ritualized street celebration colored powder ebooks phraya anuman ratchathon yong sathiankoset amusement songkran festival archived march wayback machine journal siam society volume part pp – ministry culture thailand songkran tradition bangkok department cultural promotion ministry culture pp isbn medium related songkran thailand wikimedia common