Songkran In Chiang Mai

For many years Chiang Mai has been the Mecca for the lovers of the "Fighting with Water Culture"- Playing Songkran as the Thais like to call it. Thai New Year is the time when business close down and the city takes on its own alternative personality. The rules of the Water War are to throw as much water over someone else before they can attack you. The city just goes wild with pickup trucks loaded with plastic dustbins full of iced water and entusiastic troops to douse anyone - take no prisoners, everyone is fair gain, especially foreign tourists.

The battle is the ancient square moat that frames the inner city with a pair of concentric roads within easy shouting and firing distsnace. This has come a long way from it's origins of gentle sprinkling jasmine scented water over the hands and feet of elderly relatives, how life changes.

Traditionally Songkran is the time to clean the house and have a big family yet together. It is the one time the year when Thais travel home to spend time with their famillies.

The municipal merit making to the former Lanna kings takes place between 8-10 am at the Three Kings Monument. On 15th civic dignatories including the Provincial Governor ingaging in the ceremonail bathing at the Governor's mansion from noon until 2pm. The Sacred Buddha images are paraded from the river back to each of their temples.