April Cultural Holiday Recognition: Southeast Asia Harvest Festivals, Water and New Year Celebrations
Most of us have heard of Songkran — Thai New Year — a water splashing festival that originated from an ancient Indian festival marking the arrival of the new harvest season. It marks both the end of the hot season and the start of the annual wet season. It is a celebration that embraces cleansing, goodwill, love, compassion and thankfulness, using water as the means of expression. Celebrations are famous for the public water “fights” framed as ritual cleansing on the streets.
Less well known is that the fact that this harvest and new year festival is also celebrated similarly in slightly different ways in other parts of Southeast Asia:
- Songkran (Thailand): April 13 – 15, 2022
- Moha Sangkrant (Cambodia): April 14 – 16, 2022
- Pi Mai (Laos): April 14 – 16, 2022
- Thingyan (Myanmar): April 13 – 16, 2022
Happy Songrkran, Harvest Festivals, Water and New Year Celebrations for those who celebrate in South East Asia!