Troot Songkraan

Out with the old and in with the new year!

It all starts out quite serenely with *Tungs waving gently in the hot breeze from sand pagodas and street poles. Fine sprays of mist, softly and respectfully, refresh you as you walk through the gates of temple grounds.

Ladies, boys and ladyboys, dressed in exquisite costumes dance and act out traditional tales on stages dotted all over the city.

Props for the sacred Bodhi trees are lined up for sale.

Old giants are wrapped in blessed orange ribbons.

But then, as Khun K and I strolled back from the markets, where shops where being cleaned and inventory stocktaked, we encountered this aquatic arch on Charoen Meuang bridge...unprepared, we made the 100 metre journey in a songthaew, back to the car.

Squint

 An occasional squirt from the sidewalk on the way home...

...and from the rear of a bike...

...and then traffic almost grinds to a halt, on the moat roads, as the ambushers grow in number...

Yes! Our car doors are locked.

...by late afternoon, the big guns have come out to play...

...and before you know it, it's open slather...

...and all out war! You can run, but, you can't hide. What once was trickle of scented water over the shoulder, is now a bucket of ice cold water...

...even the cars aren't safe from a good dose of, sometimes coloured, talc...

...and if you get tired of drenching everyone else, you can always turn on yourself...

...don't even think about it (again) pink bucket guy!

And it's only Tuesday.

Wednesday it rains and it's cold and Stray and I welcome our guests from Australia, in the comfort of a warm dry taxi...but the festivities are far from dampened. It amazes me that some grumpy tourists walk right through the middle of this mayhem and expect to stay dry. It makes me wonder if some have arrived without a clue that Songkraan is in full swing. 

Today the sun has just started to shine and I can hear shrieks and screams even from here. The celebrations are in full force again...but I'm really, really busy (and dry) writing this post. And then, I have to...er, um, well, I'm sure I'll find something I must have to do, indoors.

(NB - we didn't play on the moat water side of the street nor were we insane enough to ride our bike. Most of the objects, like shrubbery, pillars and people, I was hiding behind while taking these photos, have been cropped from your view.)

*(Tung Chai) These are usually associated with mortuary rites and dedicated to the dead because Songkran is a special occasion for the Thais to make merit to their ancestors. The flags of victory have two tail-like appendages, by which helpless ancestors who have been reborn in hell can hoist themselves to a higher level of existence. includes the celebration of the end of one year -- 'Troot' -- and the beginning of a new year - 'Songkran' Chiangmai-Chiangrai.com

If you'd like to read further about the traditions and customs of Songkraan, try this article from the Ministry of Culture.

Snap's other blog Chiang Mai Thai