SongkranParade
12 APRIL 2013 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: The Phra Buddha Sihing is brought out for public viewing on the first day of Songkran. The Phra Buddha Sihing, a revered statue of the Buddha, is carried by truck through the streets of Bangkok so people can make offerings and bathe it in scented oils. Songkran is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 16 April. The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed. If the days fall on a weekend, the missed days are taken on the weekdays immediately following. Songkran is in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season and provides an excuse for people to cool off in friendly water fights that take place throughout the country. The traditional Thai New Year has been a national holiday since 1940, when Thailand moved the first day of the year to January 1. The first day of the holiday period is generally the most devout and many people go to temples to make merit and offer prayers for the new year.. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
- Filename
- Songkran007.jpg
- Copyright
- © Jack Kurtz
- Image Size
- 3412x5118 / 10.6MB
- Contained in galleries
- Thailand (All)
