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New Year in Thailand



I am a transit passenger in Bangkok today. The city celebrated Songkran - the Thai new year today. The date on the banner in the picture shows yesterday, but the celebration was really today.
Songkran sounds so similar to Sangkranti. Also the new year seems to co-incide very much with the Bengalis' "Nabo Borsho" (meaning new year) as also the Baisakhi in Punjab. I guess some of this can be explained by the ancient influence of Indian culture on Thailand.

But here's the funniest part - Bangkok celebrates Songkran on the streets by splashing water mixed with white powder on passersby. Not exactly the same as our Holi, but the resemblance is too close to be just a co-incidence.
Should I google this up or leave it to our imagination how the Holi became Songkran in Thailand? is there a massage, sorry message there somewhere (more pictures coming).

Comments

  1. GazalApril 18, 2008 at 12:34 PM

    maybe the colour white is to spread the message of peace???

    ReplyDelete
  2. New guyApril 25, 2008 at 6:14 PM

    @ghazal: yeah...maybe why not....but i understand the story is-- earlier it used to be all kind of colors ....now only white is permitted by the cops.

    ReplyDelete

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