It is the hottest time of the year in Thailand– both politically and meteorologically. The Red Shirts are demonstrating and it looks today as if the current government may fall in the near future. As we have watched films of the clashes between protesters and police, we keep thinking of how darn hot it is there now. It hit 96 F in Bangkok today and is expected to reach 109 in Chiang Mai on Thursday!
For now, the violence has subsided and protests in Bangkok have paused for a few days to celebrate Songkran, or the Water Festival, also known as Thai New Year. This holiday, celebrated from April 13-15, was originally celebrated in the northern parts of the country, introduced by the Burmese who adopted it from the Hindu festival Holi.
While colored pigments and water are tossed in India during Holi, plain water is splashed on everyone during Songkran, which is festivized most vigorously in Chiang Mai. During Songkran, Thais shoot each other with squirt guns or douse everyone with hoses, but also may give their home altar figures of Buddhas a bath and wash temple Buddhas with fragrant water to bring good luck and prosperity. This is actually how the water-tossing came about. The holy water that had poured over the Buddhas was collected and used to bless loved ones. Today, while some still focus on the religious meanings of the holiday, on the streets, it is more about the fun.
And today in Bangkok, the Red Shirts have dropped their arms and taken up squirt guns (read about it in the New York Times.) We have contacted some Thai friends to get some more personal accounts of what is happening, but they seem to be away from their computers, probably out getting drenched! Until we have their reports, we’ll have to tap some other sources. In the meantime, enjoy this video of the protesters and tourists having a wet old time in Bangkok. Aaaahh!!!
