Songkran

How are you guys doing? As i promise in my facebook account, here is the entry about Songkran, mostly people know Songkran as an wet water splashy event, but the true fact is it is starts with prayers, sai bart(food offerings), cleansing the buddha, water poring to monks hands and feat and later the water fiesta. In addition today the monks decides to do the prayers for the decease as well.
Here the monk announce to all the temple members to write the names of the deceased parents,grandparents and relative, so that the prayers is send to the respective elders. It is to note to people, although there is fiesta, we still remember our relatives that has been call earlier, it is also to let them feel peace in the other world(thereafter).
The names are put in a bowl, chanting by the monks and later the names are burn and the holy water called thruat nam is poured, later this water is pour to a tree.
Next is sai bart or food offering.There are 2 foods here, one is for the offering and another is for sai bart.
there is also donations made.
after finish sai bart, the monks have their lunch and later us. The food are brought by us the wat members, some include fried chicken,vegetables, fruits, and lots of other dish, this depends on us.
Next around 2pm, the monks start chanting for buddha cleasing, so the monks pour the water to buddha first and later by us.It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year.



The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people, by capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddhas for cleansing and then using this "blessed" water to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring it on the shoulder.
Later we cleanse the buddha and it is our turn to pour the water to monks, sorry guys i did not take pictures because i do not want to wet myself and my camera.

Later the water splashing and talc war begins


and the water is actually holy water that monks chant for a few days it consits of water, perfume,lime and also flowers

Some people might not understand and start splashing people without waiting for the prayer, it is why we the ones who knows must let people know that they have to cleanse the buddha, the monks, the elders and later to one another. After that the monks will chant again and splash us with holy water and this marks the end of the water celebration. I did not get wet because of the water but i was wet helping my mom cleaning the temple water, it is fun to watch but i just do not want to be soaking wet like this guy over here.

Well this is basically how a small thai community celebrate Songkran in Malaysia.