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of life, as well as various playing activities for lucky draw and fun in forms of water splashing,
folk play, and entertainment. play. Important activities in the Songkran tradition that Thai
people have practiced and inherited can be summarized as follows.
Before Songkran This is often the preparation for the prosperity of starting life in the
new yearโ€s days in various matters including cleaning, food preparation for merit making, and
others. This will bring refreshment, hope, and wait with happiness. In addition, the house
cleaning is like practicing oneโ€s mind.
During Songkran When Songkran tradition arrives, it is be the time when everyone
smiles and shows their bright and cheerful minds. The activities that should be performed
include the following.
Alms giving This is to bring food to the monks at the temple and is considered to be
a way to inherit and nurture Buddhism It also helps to refine the mind to know how to make
sacrifices without expecting anything in return.
Merit making for ancestors
This is making merit for ashes to expresses gratitude to the benefactor and the deceased.
Sacred bathing There is two types: bathing Buddha image bathing and novice monk
bathing. This is for paying respect to the matriarch who inherit Buddhism and for the prosperity
of life at the beginning of a new era.
Sand pagoda formation This is to allow monks to use sand for further construction or
filling in the area. In the old days, people doing various activities in the temple considered
that the sand might get stuck on their feet. When the year is over, the sand should be carried
back and used. At present, the formation of the sand pagoda may be left with only an ideal
form, which may be modified to merit in other forms instead.
Senior water pouring It is to show respect and gratitude to the benefactors. Especially
the younger ones are expecteed to treat the very senior such as parents, grandparents,
supervisors, etc.
เน‘4เน9 Songkran Tradition
