Songhran is the Thai New Year - a happy time, a time waiting for the rains to come again after many months of dry - a time waiting to be able to get their rice crops planted once again. April 13 to 15 is a 3 day period of time off from work and a time when many people return to their home places to be with family and friends. Songhran is a festive time where water becomes an integral part of the celebrations. At times the water throwing gets a little out of hand, but at the same time enjoyed by all. The celebrations bring along with it many tragic accidents on the highways with many deaths and injuries as a result. The original Songhran festivals were simply pouring water over the hands of friends and elders and the tying of string around people's wrists with well wishing for good luck, good health and happiness.
This year I visited a well known family in one of the outlying Districts of Udon Thani. Four years ago the young father of this family was killed in a tragic car accident leaving his wife and four children alone to fend for themselves - the youngest girl at the time was only two years old. Below she pours water over the remains of his body at the temple - also a common practise during the Songhran festivals.
Above Brother Damien and Brother Bernd with two of the children and below new monks just coming out of the temple and below people givings alms for the new monks. It is customary for monks to walk through the villages in early morning and are given food by the people which they must eat before noon as they do not eat from noon until the next morning (other than water).
Below a painting done by a young man in one of the villages. It is interesting to see his interpretation of Buddha and Christ in relation to Christianity.
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