[Article] The Legend of Songkran Fastival.

[Article] The Legend of Songkran Fastival.


The word "Songkran" in Sanskrit means "ascending", which refers to the sen ascending a certain constellation. As the sun enters Aries, this is called "maha songkran" and delineates the traditional Thai new year.

There is a legend behind the Songkran festival, which King Rama II instructed to be recorded at Wat Phra Chetupon. According to legend, King Kabilprom posed three questions to Thammabal Kuman, who had to answer within seven days. If he couldn't answer the question, he would be beheaded, but if he could, then the King would cut off his own head. One day, Thammabal Kuman overhead two eagles talking, and discovered the answers to the questions, and as a result, King Kabilprom had to behead himself.



However, being of supernatural mettle, his head would set fire to the entire material world if left on the earth; if thrown up into the air, no rain would fall; if thrown into the ocean, the seas would dry up, He thus instructed his seven daughters to receive his head in a footed tray to be placed in a cave on Krailas Mountain. Every 365 days on Songkran, each daughter would take turn to lead a procession with the king's head.

In the old days, people believed that the Lady of Songkran would predict the future of the land, depending upon which day Songkran fell. A different lady would represent each day of the week, each with a particular name, flower, dress and accessories, weapon, and vehicle.

Even today, it is the tradition to hold beauty contests for the Lady of Songkran, and a procession is still follow the old tradition.