Huahin Songkran

Beautiful girl play songkran festival.

Last year's Songkran Festival is celebrated from Saturday the 13th April through to Tuesday 16th April, as there is a weekend in the middle a substitute day is added. At the Songkran Festival the Thai people pour water over a Buddha image and anybody else within range!.Thailand celebrates at least three new years. There's the usual year's end celebrations on 31st December and just like the west there are many new year's eve parties.Then there's the Chinese new year, which is a 'moveable' feast. The Thai new year is the Songkran Festival.Songkran comes from an old Sanskrit word meaning 'Beginning of the Solar Year'. The summer solstice in these latitudes falls in April and in ancient times the festival was probably much like the 'mid summer' festivals which originated from pagan times in Europe.It is variously referred to here as 'The Beginning of the Lunar Year', 'The Start of the Returns of the Rains' and of course 'Thai New Year'. It was most probably an ancient festival which has been adopted by Buddhist followers.These days the Thais clean their houses thoroughly prior to the Songkran celebrations, and on Songkran day merit (offerings) is made at Buddhist temples. Children show their respect to elders by performing the water ceremony, by pouring water into the palms of parents and older relatives hands. In the streets, people splash water on one another. Songkran lasts for 3 days and is called 'Home Coming Day', as families have a get-together.