Songkran in Chiang Mai: Let the Games Begin
Chiang Mai, a city in Northern Thailand is known for many things including being a center of culture, a gateway to the north and a meeting place for hill tribes to sell their wares and handicrafts. It is also the best place to celebrate the Thain New Year. This festival, known as Songkran is one huge water festival. I am not talking about conserving water, but rather throwing water on anyone and everyone you see at all times and from all directions. Why water? I was told that it celebrates making it through the dry season. Of course, the monsoon season has not started yet so there appears to be very little water and seeing so much go to waste makes any Israeli think twice.
You could be walking down a street, on a motorbike or in a car with open windows; everyone is fair game. The kids certainly take the spotlight in this holiday but all ages enjoy it. Ariel and I bought water guns and have joined in with the rest.
The holiday officially starts today, the 13th but apparently in Chiang Mai, the 12th is used as full dress rehearsal. I felt like I was in the Wild West yesterday, but with water guns. The main festivities happen around the mote that marks the boundaries of the old city. People line up on the side of the road and throw water on every passerby. Be it by water gun, bucket or hose, anything that dispenses water will work. But this game is not one sided. People sit on the back of pick-up trucks, scooters, bicycles, tuk-tuk (3 wheeled taxis) and other modes of transportation with water guns and buckets of their own. The city also provides huge blocks of ice that someone deposits in these large bins lining the streets every so often.
At sunset the water is supposed to subside, but there are no real rules in Songkran. Beyond the water, there are other celebrations and festivities including food festivals, parades and ceremonies in the various Buddhist temples.
The real challenge of Songkran is trying to stay dry after you have returned home and toweled off. When you are out on the streets, anything is possible.
You could be walking down a street, on a motorbike or in a car with open windows; everyone is fair game. The kids certainly take the spotlight in this holiday but all ages enjoy it. Ariel and I bought water guns and have joined in with the rest.
The holiday officially starts today, the 13th but apparently in Chiang Mai, the 12th is used as full dress rehearsal. I felt like I was in the Wild West yesterday, but with water guns. The main festivities happen around the mote that marks the boundaries of the old city. People line up on the side of the road and throw water on every passerby. Be it by water gun, bucket or hose, anything that dispenses water will work. But this game is not one sided. People sit on the back of pick-up trucks, scooters, bicycles, tuk-tuk (3 wheeled taxis) and other modes of transportation with water guns and buckets of their own. The city also provides huge blocks of ice that someone deposits in these large bins lining the streets every so often.
At sunset the water is supposed to subside, but there are no real rules in Songkran. Beyond the water, there are other celebrations and festivities including food festivals, parades and ceremonies in the various Buddhist temples.
The real challenge of Songkran is trying to stay dry after you have returned home and toweled off. When you are out on the streets, anything is possible.
posted by Leora @ 4:42 AM
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