Thailand enjoys Songkran
By Itsarin Tisantia, photos by courtesy of Bangkok Post
Songkran Festival, held from April 13 to 15, is one of the most popular festivals in Thailand. It is held to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year. On this occasion, locals and foreigners alike will enjoy splashing water on one another.
This year, Thailand has encountered draught and water shortages across the kingdom. While the government doesn’t urge Thais to avoid taking part in the festival, people are encouraged to use water sparingly.
For this week’s Freeze Frame, SW takes a look at some of the Songkran activities held last year.
Mon people pour water with flowers along a channel that pours over the hands of monks at Bang Kradi Temple in Bangkok.
Above: A Buddha Sihing statue is moved from the National Museum to Sanam Luang in Bangkok for Songkran celebrations.
Above: Tourists splash water with elephants in front of Phra Ram Temple in Ayutthaya.
Above: Lanna people decorate Ched Yod Temple with traditional flags (left) and prop pieces of wood against a sacred Bodhi tree (right) as part of their Songkran celebrations.
Above: Songkran Beauty Pageant contestants in traditional costume sit in a dazzlingly decorated procession heading for Muang Pradaeng District Office in Samut Prakan province.
Above: People pour water with flowers along a channel that pours over the hands of monks at Bang Kradi Temple in Bangkok.
Above: Many revellers enjoy a foam party at a concert held to celebrate Songkran in front of CentralWorld in Bangkok,
Exercises
Write down the simple past tense forms of the following verbs used in Freeze Flame in the space given.
1. light ………………….
2. splash ………………….
3. sit ………………….
4. decorate ………………….
Answers
1. Lit.
2. Splashed.
3. Sit.
4. Decorated.
Vocabulary
sparingly (adv): in a way that only uses a small amount of something
prop (v): to support an object by leaning it against something
dazzlingly (adv): in a bright, impressive and beautiful way
reveller (n): a person who is having fun in a noisy way, usually with a group of other people at a party, etc.
