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| THE
word "songkran"
in Sanskrit means "ascending", which refers
to the sen ascending a certain constellation. As the sun
enters Aries, this is called "maha songkran"
and delineates the traditional Thai new year. |
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| There
is a legend behind the Songkran festival, which King Rama
II instructed to be recorded at Wat Phra Chetupon. According
to legend, King Kabilprom posed three questions to Thammabal
Kuman, who had to answer within seven days. If he couldn't
answer the question, he would be beheaded, but if he could,
then the King would cut off his own head. One day, Thammabal
Kuman overhead two eagles talking, and discovered the
answers to the questions, and as a result, King Kabilprom
had to behead himself. |
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| However,
being of supernatural mettle, his head would set fire
to the entire material world if left on the earth; if
thrown up into the air, no rain would fall; if thrown
into the ocean, the seas would dry up, He thus instructed
his seven daughters to receive his head in a footed tray
to be placed in a cave on Krailas Mountain. Every 365
days on Songkran, each daughter would take turn to lead
a procession with the king's head. |
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| In
the old days, people believed that the Lady of Songkran
would predict the future of the land, depending upon which
day Songkran fell. A different lady would represent each
day of the week, each with a particular name, flower,
dress and accessories, weapon, and vehicle. |
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| Even
today, it is the tradition to hold beauty contests for
the Lady of Songkran, and a procession is still follow
the old tradition. |
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