Songkran, the Thai New year celebration characterized for tourists by water dousings -- sometimes massive drenchings -- is happening now in Thailand and celebrations are apparently underway despite current civil unrest and reported military presence, deaths, and civilian injuries in some areas. Songkran's now-fixed date (April 13-15 -- and longer) was originally set by astrological calculation, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand -- get there any time in the next week, though, and you might get wet (see some festival calendars below).
The Thailand holiday's present day water wildness has its roots in the pouring of a small amount of water on a visitor's hands -- a sign of respect and purification as part of traditional ceremonies meant to bring good luck and prosperity in the New Year. In some particularly touristed parts of Thailand (many Thai nationals spend the national holiday away from cities and with families), that bit of water sprinkling has turned into up to a week of major dousings by and to strangers, like with water cannons and hoses from the backs of open vehicles. Some Thai cities experience heavy traffic difficulty around the New Year, as might be expected when drivers are careening about on slick streets spraying one another from water barrels.
Serious Unrest Afoot
As well as the usual soaking shenanigans, Thailand's experiencing some serious civil unrest as Songkran begins in 2009. Thailand's business daily, The Nation, is reporting a
"bloodstained start to Songkran" ("Central Bangkok a war zone") and two people are reported to have been killed in Bangkok as of April 13. First hand and news reports vary; the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has this warning for its citizens:
The Thailand holiday's present day water wildness has its roots in the pouring of a small amount of water on a visitor's hands -- a sign of respect and purification as part of traditional ceremonies meant to bring good luck and prosperity in the New Year. In some particularly touristed parts of Thailand (many Thai nationals spend the national holiday away from cities and with families), that bit of water sprinkling has turned into up to a week of major dousings by and to strangers, like with water cannons and hoses from the backs of open vehicles. Some Thai cities experience heavy traffic difficulty around the New Year, as might be expected when drivers are careening about on slick streets spraying one another from water barrels.
Serious Unrest Afoot
As well as the usual soaking shenanigans, Thailand's experiencing some serious civil unrest as Songkran begins in 2009. Thailand's business daily, The Nation, is reporting a
"bloodstained start to Songkran" ("Central Bangkok a war zone") and two people are reported to have been killed in Bangkok as of April 13. First hand and news reports vary; the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office has this warning for its citizens:
- "Armoured vehicles are deployed in the capital...several violent clashes have occurred between red-shirted supporters of ex-Prime Minister Thaksin and military and police units in central Bangkok and the seaside resort of Pattaya... Some shops are closed and red-shirted protestors have blocked several road junctions... This is making travel in some parts of Bangkok difficult. The Lao/Thai border crossing in Nong Chai is closed and there are reports of road blocks in Chiang Mai and Lampang in northern Thailand. Red-shirt leaders have threatened major protests in 50 cities throughout Thailand in the next few days."
- Lonely Planet Thorntree: "A state of emergency declared in Bangkok and surrounds"
- The Nation: Current news reports from Thailand
- A take on Thai politics and current events from Vern Lovic at Thai Pulse's blog: "Thailand's Red Shirts, Thaksin, Military"
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