SONGKRAN: Buddhist Water Festival in USA

(Kun Yekha: Kaowao, April 17, 2006)

For the sake of culture unity and religious activity, Mons in Fort Wayne, Indiana happily celebrated their second Mon Songkran water festival in commemoration of the New Year.

 

"Songkran" is a word from one of the world’s oldest languages, Sanskrit, meaning to "move into" and refers to the orbit of the sun moving into Aries. It marks the end of the 12-month cycle and the beginning of the new solar year and is celebrated by most Buddhists as Songkran. In Burma, it is special time to get together with family and friends in the homeland and a festive way to cool down in 40-degree heat during water splashing, the major event during the festival that continues for 3 days in Burma and Thailand.

 

The underlying significance of Songkran is the process of cleansing and purification - the purging of all ills, misfortune and evil - starting the New Year afresh with all that is good and pure. Water, which has played a huge role in South and Southeast Asian cultures for centuries, is symbolic of the cleaning process and signifies purity.

 

On the first day, April 15th, various activities were undertaken for funfair such as running with round bamboo trays, biting cakes, tug a war, sports competitions, and dancing. In the morning, merit-making rituals were performed and offerings were made to the Buddhist monks. Mind-cleaning and personal cleansing were also part of this "renewal" process. In the evening, young girls and children swathed in traditional customs burst forth with energy dancing to Mon music accompanied by applause from the audience watching the show.

On the second day, Songkran rice was served to the devotees and the many guests who came to participate in the special event. Buddha images and monks were bathed with fragrance water in a gesture of respect after receiving the five precepts, the rules of the practicing Buddhist to follow the right path to enlightenment, while they recited some verses to the rhythm of cymbals. Later in the afternoon, the young people splashed water on each other to the sound of drum beating, followed by a lottery in which winners won Mon Buddhist calendars.