Most important Buddhist events take place in the home, not the Temple. One ancient rite belongs to Songkran. Every year, the children pour water over the hands of their parents and other elders as a sign of respect.
Some places, like Chiang Mai, the ritual has turned into a huge three-day water party, where kids carry squirt guns and buckets and try to soak each other and unwary adults. In Chiang Mai, near the moat, you will see water cannons on pickup trucks manned by laughing teens and young adults. Tourists beware.
In rural villages like Luak Arun in Surin Province (population 350), they still do it the old way. Here two adult children are blessing their widowed mom for Songkran.
After the handwashing, the son and daughter salute their mother with a respectful wai.
Some places, like Chiang Mai, the ritual has turned into a huge three-day water party, where kids carry squirt guns and buckets and try to soak each other and unwary adults. In Chiang Mai, near the moat, you will see water cannons on pickup trucks manned by laughing teens and young adults. Tourists beware.
After the handwashing, the son and daughter salute their mother with a respectful wai.
