As I mentioned in
Part 1, a big part of the Songkran festival is the
city-wide water fight that takes place over the course of 3 days in order to celebrate the Thai New Year (although people actually play for 4 days because really, who wouldn't want to?!?). This water fight is crazy, insane, outrageous, and just plain old FUN.
However, a far calmer (and dryer) activity during Songkran is the giving of food to monks. This year, my mom and I headed to Thapae Gate, which is a main square in the old city, early one morning to see Songkran being celebrated in this more traditional manner. We watched locals give food, drinks, symbolic flower arrangements, and even money to the monks in order to receive blessings. The monks were lined up from oldest to youngest and people seemed to want to give more to the older monks. This might have caused a problem, but there were workers who emptied the containers the monks were holding in order to make room for the many offerings they were receiving.
Besides from the monk procession, we also saw school kids dressed in traditional Thai clothing ready to dance and perform for the crowds. There was even a small northern Thai market set up selling all sorts of delicious goodies. Don't worry, we definitely bought some food to take home! After all, it's never too early to eat sticky rice and friend pork, right?
Bombarded with offerings.
All lined up and ready to begin.
On the move...
Lots of gifts...
Girls dressed up and wearing the long fingers for a Thai dance.
Miss Chiang Mai is in pink and the runner ups.
Dancers and drummer...
Drum
Some of the items given to the monks for sale for those who didn't bring things from home.
Deep fried pork...YUM!
Different foods wrapped in leaves for sale at the market.
Northern Thai deliciousness...meat, meat, and more meat!
Birds for sale, lottery tickets for sale, and a happy little old lady!
Please check out
Part 1 and
Part 3 for more Songkran pictures.
