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Making merit & making merry for Thai New Year

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It may be April, but in Thailand, they're celebrating New Year. The 5-day holiday lasts until Wednesday. And to mark the occasion, Thais are celebrating Songkran; or the Water Festival. But as CCTV Bangkok correspondent Martin Lowe explains, there are two Songkrans, the ancient and the modern.

An offering of food to Buddhist monks, it's known as "making merit" and follows traditional teachings, which say a monk should not be distracted by worldly things and so cannot cook or handle money.

People splash water during celebrations for Songkran Festival, Thailand's traditional New Year Festival, at the Ancient City in Samut Prakan Province, Thailand, April 14, 2013. Songkran, also known as the Water Splashing Festival, started here on April 13 this year. [Xinhua]

Festival, started here on April 13 this year.

It's part of the ancient Songkran ceremonies here in Thailand, which date back hundreds of years. As is this the trickling of scented water into the palms of elders.

The first day of Songkran is also National Elderly Day. But today, more and more, this is the public face of Songkran.

A huge water fight, played out in the streets. Both here in the capital Bangkok, and in towns and villages across the country. Only the water is common to both celebrations. This is a public party, far from the religious traditions.

Sukhumbhand Paribatra, Governor of Bangkok, said, "In the last several years I'm afraid that the fun side of the equation has gained prominence, and that's perhaps unfortunate. It's fun yes splashing water but I think in the last few years it has been overdone."

Heavy drinking is also part of New Year, which has led to many accidents on the roads; averaging around 300 deaths and thousands of injuries.

This Songkran, police have promised a crackdown.

Prathammadilok, Deputy Abbot, Suthad Royal Temple, said, "Thai people will often pour water first at the ceremony and then play with water in the street. It's about love and respect and it shouldn't become violent or rough."

Water plays an important part in the New Year celebrations. For Thais, it symbolizes cleansing of the spirit and the ending of the long dry season.

Most people accept there is room for both the old and the new Songkrans, the traditional acts of blessing and thanks and the water battles which rage unabated in the streets.

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