Page 7 - จุลสาร 179 บุญสงกรานต์

จุลสารวัดรัตนปัญญา ฉบับที่ 179
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Songkran Festival (Thai Traditional New Year)

Water is an important element of Songkran, especially in more
recent times when the throwing of water has become a huge part of
the annual celebrations. If you’re visiting Thailand during this period,
prepare to get splashed! Crowds of people roam around throwing
buckets of water, using water pistols and just generally soaking any-

one in the vicinity. To celebrate Songkran, there are many activities
throughout Thailand according to regional tradition. What to do during
the Songkran Festival. Some of the activities include:

1) Cleaning houses and public places such as temples, schools,
and offices to welcome the New Year with cleanliness and fresh start.
2) Merit making by offering alms to monks in dedication to
the late ancestors, listening to Buddhist preaching, and releasing birds
and fish back to their natural habitat.
3) Sprinkling water onto Buddha images and monks is an
auspicious act to receive blessings for the New Year.
4) Building sand pagodas on temple ground. Bringing sand
into the temple’s premise is considered a merit because the sand can
be used for construction or restoration by temple.
5) Pouring water onto elderly family members of the family or
society to show respect and gratefulness and to ask for their blessing.
6) Enjoying folk performances and traditional games to pre-
serve the Songkran tradition.
7) Having friendly water fights using clean or scented water,
exchanging New Year’s greetings during water play, and asking per-
mission before throwing water at someone because he or she may not
wish to get wet.
(http://ichcourier.ichcap.org/en/thai-traditional-new-year-songkran-)

อาทิตย์ 14 เมษายน 2562 ;“บุญประเพณีสงกรานต์”