The water fights are known for their vitality in central and eastern Thailand. They occur several days after other parts of the country have concluded their festivities and put away their water pistols until the next year. Similarly, the people of Chonburi province observe the Wan Lai Festival from April 16-20.

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What is Wan Lai Festival?

Wan Lai is a Thai term that means “day that flows”. Thai people often club the Wan Lai Festival with the last days of Songkran as it is an additional holiday to the Thai New Year.

The origins of the Wan Lai Festival are deeply rooted in the history and tradition of Thailand. It started as a practice to honour the gods and ensure a bountiful harvest.

Today, the festival incorporates modern twists while retaining its traditional elements, making it a true reflection of Thailand’s vibrant cultural heritage.

Held annually in the southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Songkhla, the Wan Lai Festival is a burst of colour and activity that captivates both locals and tourists alike.

How is Wan Lai Festival Celebrated?

Water fights, parades, cultural performances, and food characterise the festival. It is a time for people to forget their differences and unite harmoniously to celebrate the New Year.

One of the most significant aspects of the Wan Lai festival is the water fights. People throw water at each other using buckets, guns, and hoses. The water fights are fun and a way to cool off during Thailand’s hot and humid weather.

Apart from the water fights, the Wan Lai festival is known for its colourful parades. People dress in traditional costumes and parade through the streets, showcasing their cultural heritage. The parades are accompanied by music and dance performances, making it a joyous occasion for everyone.

Local Thai Food to Try during Wan Lai Festival

Another important aspect of the Wan Lai festival is the food. Traditional Thai delicacies are prepared and served during the festival. The food is not only delicious but also reflects the cultural diversity of Thailand.

Some of the popular dishes include:

Tom Yam: A popular Thai soup renowned for its spicy and tangy flavours and is typically prepared with prawns or shrimp.

Pad Thai: It is no surprise that this dish has become a beloved component of Thailand’s rich culinary heritage. Pad Thai comprises mouth-watering ingredients such as rice noodles, succulent shrimp, crunchy peanuts, a fluffy scrambled egg, and crisp bean sprouts.

Som Tam: Made from fresh green papaya, Som Tam salad boasts the perfect balance of sour, spicy, sweet, and salty flavors.

Satay: It’s a classic Thai dish with sliced marinated chicken accompanied by a sauce obtained from peanuts and chilli sauce, topped with shredded shallots, sambal (chilli paste), and a generous squeeze of lime juice.

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The Popular Sand Sculptures of Bang Saen Beach

Every year, during the Wan Lai Festival in Bang Saen, a magnificent display of up to 100 meticulously crafted sand sculptures grace the shoreline.

These awe-inspiring creations are predominantly in the form of sand pagodas, also known as chedi sai. They encompass diverse structures, including tuk-tuks, elephants, and mermaids, all brought to life through the magical medium of sand.

Wan Lai is a time for reflection and renewal. It is a time for people to unite and strengthen their bonds with family and friends. It is a time to let go of the past and look forward to a brighter future.

Wan Lai encourages people to forgive and forget and start afresh. The festival also serves as a reminder to preserve and promote Thai culture and traditions for future generations.

If you ever get the chance to visit Thailand during the second week of April, do not miss the opportunity to experience the Wan Lai festival.

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Four more must read articles on Indo Thai News

Songkran: The Water Festival of Thailand

Veggie Pad Thai: A Mouth-watering Twist on a Classic Dish

A Place to Grow, Learn and Discover: Thailand as an Education Destination

Khao Soi-The Signature Dish from Northern Thailand

The post Soak Up the Fun: Wan Lai Water Festival in Thailand appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.

If you are in Thailand between April 13^th and 15^th this year, and happen to get wet by someone pouring water all over you, don’t get offended; as this is the way Thai celebrate their Buddhist New Year.

Held every year on 13^th April, which has now been extended up to April 15^th for each year, Buddhist New Year celebration is the biggest festival celebration taking place in Thailand, known as Songkran.

What is Songkran?

Songkran is Thai New year’s national holiday. It is celebrated each year on 13^th April, and the festivities runs up to 15^th April, a trend that started two years back. Meaning ‘transformation of change’ alike the arrival of spring, aligning with the Buddhist calendar.

Songkran was the official New Year in Thailand up until 1888, but afterwards it shifted to April 1^st, and then to January 1^st aligning with the World’s calendar. The original New Year was then transformed into the Buddhist New Year national Holiday. Songkran word comes from a Sanskrit word that means ‘passing’ or ‘approaching’.

Why Songkran is Celebrated?

The festivities of Songkran started in the 13^th century in Thailand with rituals including washing Buddha statues with water that was considered to wash away the previous sins. Traditionally people used to visit temple and their friends and families’ homes to sprinkle and pour water over Buddha statues so as to wash way their bad luck and sins from the previous.

Soon the trend of pouring and throwing water on each other picked pace and now it has become a celebration of sorts, and this is why Songkran is called as the biggest water fight in the world. People also visit temples to offer new robes and food to temple monks.

Interesting Things to Know About Songkran

• Celebrations Beyond Thailand

This festival is not just celebrated in Thailand, but some neighbouring countries as well including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

• Fun and Festivities Galore

This festival is not just about sprinkling water as a way of purification but for Thais and the tourists that visit each year, it is a day to celebrate, have fun with water and chill down in the hot season of April.

• National Elderly Day

The first day of the official is officially called as National Elderly Day, when younger people pour scented water into elder people’s palms asking for their blessings, a ritual known as Rod Nam Dum Hua.

• National Family Day

The 2^nd festival day is observed as National Family Day, during which families give alms to temple monks and spend the rest of the day celebrating with their families.

• Rituals Across the Country

There are numerous festivities and activities associated with Songkran, the primary being cleansing with water that signifies purification of one’s sins. Another common practice is paying tribe to the dead and offering food and robes to the monks.
Regionally, North Thailand sees rituals where firecrackers are burst to ward off evils, whereas South Thailand pledges and work towards not hurting animals. And the central part engages in activities of setting free buffaloes, cows and birds.

• Pageants and Parades

Dousing each other with water, arranging live musical festivals, folk dances, beauty pageants and traditional parades are all part of Songkran festival happening around the country.

• Tourists Flock from Across the Globe

Not just with locals, but Songkran has become hugely popular with tourists from across the world, as much as this time of the year is being busiest for the travel and hotel industry in the country.

• Elephants are an Important Part of The Festival

Yes, if you think that Songkran festival is for humans only. As much as Thai people value animals in their community and rituals, they ensure to make them an integral part of their celebrations, especially the much valued and admired elephants, across the country. You can easily see elephants gelling well with people, engaging in water fight in a fun way. They get decorated with different colours and take fun spraying water over people.

How to Prepare for the Songkran Festival

As I experienced it last year, there are certain things people, especially tourists, need to keep in mind so that they are able to enjoy without any blemishes, as you would be experiencing such a grand affair for the first time in your life:

• Be Ready to Get Wet

No matter where you are in the country during this festival, there is no code of avoidance. You step out, you will get wet. So, rather than running away, let the festivities and water you soak you up.

• Keep Your Essentials Safe

When out, your phone, wallet, money, documents and other elements are important for you, which needs to be protected from the sprayed water. Invest in a waterproof bag, an appropriate size, that keeps your valuables safe and is easy to carry around.

• Wear Proper Clothes

Investing in super dry clothes is a good idea. Overall, you must be wearing light clothes specific to the situation, including a beach short underneath, tees, and flip-flops. There is no dearth of such types of clothes in the local market there.

• Goggles

Being blasted directly in the eye with a water gun can be a worse situation. So keep your eyes safe, and your mind and face ready to be hit with a pair of goggles. You can find numerous varieties, adding to the style you want to carry all day long.

• Become Involved, Fight with Water Guns and Don’t Take Anything Personally

The streets are packed all day long, especially around the Khao San road in Bangkok, and some popular hotspots including Chiang Mai, Phuket and more. So, be ready, be patient, get a good, big, sturdy water gun yourself, and take to the streets to get ready for a water fight with Thai people (they are cooperative, friendly and love the tourists becoming a part of their celebrations). And it is not that you have to pay for water, like you pay for drinking water. The locals usually put up huge containers of water on the side of the street for you to fill and refill your gun easily.

Songkran in 2020

In today’s world that has been hit by COVID-19, you can expect that there are concerns over the huge gathering of Thailand (as this country too has experienced some affected cases), you are advised to follow full precautions and assess the situation thoroughly before you decide on to take the flight to join in the celebrations of Songkran.

In coming days, there is optimism that experts the world over, with all the effective measures and steps, will contain the spread of the virus, we can hope to have a celebration that has become synonymous with the Thai way of life – enjoy, merry and dance along.

The post The World’s Biggest Water Fight Festival Marking Thai Buddhist New Year appeared first on Indo Thai News Channel - Travel l Culture l News & Event l Food.