12/04/2025
Hello everyone
I hope you are all well.
It’s SONGKRAN, the Thai New Year! So, to celebrate, there is a special event this Sunday 13th April) at Wat Pa Buddharam, the Thai Temple situated between Irchester and Rushden.
I’d like to invite you to join me for this celebration, the ceremony will start at 10am with traditional foods and soft drinks served FREE from 9:30am until 1:30pm ‼️Alcohol is NOT allowed in the temple‼️
There is no dress code or requirement, but shoes must be removed within the temple.
I’ll be at the temple but if you can’t find me please ask for help from anyone there. There is plenty of free parking within the grounds.
Looking forward to seeing you!
Wat Pa Buddharam
Station Rd, Knuston, Irchester, Wellingborough, NN29 7EP.
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‼️What is Songkran?
Songkran is essentially a Buddhist festival and is traditionally celebrated by visiting a temple on the morning of Songkran Day itself. Most people would dedicate their morning to experiencing this lovely Thai tradition, before heading to the streets for a fun, cooling splash at noon.
The Songkran Water Festival is held annually by the locals in celebration of the Thai New Year. The national holiday of Songkran is officially on the 13th of April each year, but the celebrations last for 3 days from April 13 to 15, happening all across Thailand. Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya are popular destinations for Songkran celebrations.
This vibrant event brings locals and tourists together to splash each other with water and pay respects to their elders, but most importantly, to usher in the new year with joy and enthusiasm. In fact, water plays a major role in the festival and symbolically, it is meant to wash away the previous year to get ready for the next one.
‼️What do Thai people do on Songkran day?
1: Visit a Buddhist Temple
Songkran is essentially a Buddhist festival and is traditionally celebrated by visiting a temple on the morning of Songkran Day itself. Most people would dedicate their morning to experiencing this lovely Thai tradition, before heading to the streets for a fun, cooling splash at noon.
Some temples organize a ceremony in which you can pour water on the hands of the temple monks and receive blessings from them. Buddhists may also give offerings to the temple monks.
2: Bathe Images of Buddha
Aside from making offerings to the monks, Buddhists would show reverence to Buddha by 'bathing' images and statues of the religious teacher. This traditional ritual is called Song Nam Phra, where scented water is poured or sprinkled over Buddha to wash away any bad luck in preparation for the new year.
The ritual can also be done outside of temples, at various markets, and in shopping malls. The celebration is continued by parading major Buddha statues and images along the streets, taken from local museums and temples so that people can pour water on them.
3: Spring clean & pay respect to elders
To get ready for the new year, Thais will also celebrate the first day of the water festival by spring-cleaning their houses, schools, offices, and other public spaces. This is done to get rid of all negativity and bad luck from the previous year, allowing them to start the new year with a clean slate.
Most Thais will also head home to their villages during this time to carry out the ritual of Rod Nam Dam Hua, the pouring or sprinkling of scented water onto the palms and feet of their elders. The young would traditionally do this in respect of their parents and grandparents.
