Songkran is a Thai Buddhist New Year festival that lasts for three days during the month of April. This year, Songkran is being celebrated from the 12th through the 14th. As with other Buddhist festivals, Songkran is filled with opportunities to make merit and increase luck and good fortune.

This year, Robbie’s school went on a field trip to help students learn more about Songkran and its various rituals and ceremonies. They welcomed the involvement of students’ families, so we all packed up and headed off to study Songkran together.

We visited a couple different temples. At the first one, we learned about the building of sand chedis (stupas, mounds or heaps). In the past, once a year, the people would go to the river and bring sand to the temple to resurface the grounds. Over time, this became a way to build merit and good luck. Today, Buddhist people come to the temple and build sand chedis. The higher they are able to build it, the more luck they will have. Once the chedi is built, they place flags at the top, also to increase luck.

The temple had a huge chedi surrounded by bells for worshippers to ring. The teachers told us that the louder people ring the bells, the more luck and good fortune they will have.

The second temple complex we visited, Wat Phra Singh, is the biggest in the city of Chiang Mai. It has a huge white chedi and several temple buildings along with a school for novice monks.

The first temple we entered at Wat Phra Singh held wax figures of seven prominent monks. Four figures on one side of the room were likenesses of monks serving at Wat Phra Singh. The three on the other side of the room represented monks from other parts of Thailand. We watched as people sat in front of the lifelike figures, folded their hands and read a prayer from a sign posted for worshippers.

In the largest temple on the grounds, we found many images of Buddha and figures of monks. To make merit, people were encouraged to donate money, pray and offer small banana-leaf boats.

After the tour, we returned to the school and ate a potluck lunch. Afterward, the teachers taught everyone about the Songkran water-sprinkling custom that takes place on April 14. The original custom was to sprinkle a little water over one’s parents’ and grandparents’ hands as a way of honoring and blessing them. The teachers demonstrated this by sprinkling the hands of all the students and their families. Over the years, this custom has evolved into a huge public water fight on April 14. But people still go to visit their grandparents and pay respect to them in the traditional way.

Robbie’s teacher, Khruu Aor, was very helpful in explaining Thai Songkran traditions and customs. It was great to be able to learn more language and culture during this festival. We pray that, as we observe Thai customs and culture, we will gain insight into how Thai people think and be able to find ways to communicate Christ to them better. Thank you so much for your prayers and support as we continue to learn.

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