# Songkran

Theravāda New Year, also known as Songkran, is the water-splashing festival celebration in the traditional new year for the Theravada Buddhist calendar widely celebrated across South and Southeast Asia in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, parts of northeast India, parts of Vietnam, and Xishuangbanna, China begins on 13 April of the year.
There are many names used to refer to the festival, such as Songkran in Thailand, Aluth Avurudda in Sri Lanka, Thingyan in Myanmar, Sangken in Northeast India, Sangrai in Bangladesh, Choul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, Pi Mai Lao in Laos, and Pōshuǐ jié in China and parts of northern Vietnam.

## Etymology

In Thai, Songkran or Songkrant (outdated form) is a contractive form of Sangkran (sim kranti), which itself is a loanword from Sanskrit saṅkrānti (or, more specifically, meṣha saṅkrānti) or Pali Saṅkhāra. The original meaning of saṅkrānti, marked of the sun, transits the constellation of Aries, the first astrological sign in the Zodiac, as reckoned by sidereal astrology. It is related to the equivalent Hindu calendar-based New Year festivals in most parts of South Asia, which are collectively referred to as Mesha Sankranti.
Oxford English Dictionary defines Songkran as "The festival of the Thai New Year, characterized by various observances involving the pouring or splashing of water (1727–present.)". Term has also entered other languages, such as French: La fête du Songkran, Dutch: Sonkraen, Japanese: ソンクラーン, Chinese: 宋干节 and Korean: 송끄란.

### Ethnic groups

The word Songkran written in different ethnic groups, languages or cultures as the following,
* Da Gyan or Thingyan (Myanmar).$^{:230}$
* Gin Sip Sèe (Tai Don, Tai Dam and Tai Tac in Sơn La province, Vietnam)
* Maha Sangkran, Moha Sangkran (Khmer).
* Mahasang Krane (Khmer, in French), translated from Pali to French in 1908 by Léon Faraut, son of Félix Gaspard Faraut, a French engineer who worked on the plan of Saigon colonial and accompanied Louis Delaporte in his exploration of Angkor.
* Poeng Songkran, Poeng Sakran or Poeng Sangkran (ပုၚ် သၚ်ကြာန်) (Thai-Ramanna, the Mon community in Nonthaburi province, Thailand).
* Poy Sangkhan (Tai Khuen).$^{:237}$
* Poy Son Nam, Poy Sad Nam or Sangkhan Pee Mai (Tai Lue people in Xishuangbanna).$^{:233}$
* Poy Sang Khan and Poy Sang Jan (Tai Nuea language and Tai-Dehong).$^{:233}$
* Sangkhan, Boon Pee Mai or Pi Mai (Laos),$^{:488}$$^{:233}$ derived from Pali.
* Sangxaan (Tai Lue people).
* Songkān or Pōshuǐjié (泼水节, 潑水節) (Zhuang and Dai in Yunnan).
* Songkaan (Southwestern Tai (Phu Thai) and central Laos).
* Sangkran (Mon, Lanna-Thai, Thai-Ramanna, Khmer, and Tai peoples in Northeast India.)
* Sangkyan (Shan people and upper Burmese people).
* Sangken found in archive of Kamarupa Anusandhan Samiti (Assam Research Society) recorded by the oldest Research institution in North-East India mentions the Tai New Year’s festival or Water spraying festival of Tai peoples in Northeast India.
* Sinhalese New Year (Sri Lanka)
* Songkrant tai or Xadasite Songkrant (Siam Basu in Siamese Astronomical System), recorded by Sir John Bowring.
* Waan-aah-tah (Mon)

### Khmer language

Songkran written as Sankranti can be found in many Khmer inscriptions, namely at these locations;
* Stone Inscription of Phimeanakas (K.291) dated 910 CE found in Siem Reap Province in Cambodia.
* Stone Inscription of Prasat Hin Pimai 2 (N.M.29, K.953) 1025 CE, Phimai Historical Park, Nakhon Ratchasima province, written as Sankranti.$^{:9}$ (Read and translated by Prof. Cham Thongkhamsuwan.)
* Stone Inscription of Wat Sa Kamphaeng Yai (S.K.1, K.374) 1042 CE, Sisaket province, written as Vishuva Sankranti.$^{:9}$ (Read and translated by Amphai Khamtho, the Fine Art Department of Thailand.)
* Stone Inscription of Prasat Phanom Wan$^{:5}$ (N.M.1, K.391) 1082 CE, Nakhon Ratchasima province, written as Sankranti which marked the beginning of the New Year. (Read and translated by Thongsub Subhamark.)
* Stone Inscription of Wat Phra That Choeng Chum (S.N.2, K.369) 1000-1100 CE, Sakon Nakhon province, written as Kranti, meaning of Songkran. (Read and translated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Santi Pakdekham, Ph.D.).
Songkran in Cambodia written as Maha Sankran in 1904 by Étienne Aymonier and Maha sankrant or Sankrant in 1909 by Adhémard Leclère which marked the beginning of Cambodia New Year found in The Cambodian's Almanac and Its Calendar for 1907–1908.
Étienne Aymonier also distinguished the difference of the term Maha Sankran in Cambodia that only refers to the small official calendar which must appear for the new year, while in Siam (Thailand) which refers to the beginning of New year, Siamese called Sankranta, which pronounced as Songkran.

### Thailand

Songkran in Sanskrit forms, written as Vishuva Sankranti in Khom script epigraphs, which marked the beginning of the New Year in the Odisha calendar and referred to the sun on midday has equally orbited in the day and night, was found in Thailand at these locations;
* The Royal Chronicle of Krung Sri Ayutthaya (The edition of Luang Prasoet Aksorn Niti), written in 1681 the reign of King Narai the Great, mentioned the word Songkran in event of King Naresuan the Great of Ayutthaya Kingdom marched his troops against Taungoo in 1599$^{:29}$$^{:11}$
* Nirat Than Sok. A poetic work composed by Prince Thammathibet Chaiyachet Suriyawong (1715–1755), son of King Borommakot of Ayutthaya Kingdom. The poem said of the Royal Ceremony of Marching Field and mentioned the word Songkran in month of Aries (according to Surya Siddhanta).
* Inscription of Maha Songkran at Wat Pho, Thailand, erected in 1831 the reign of King Rama III, written as Songkran.$^{:22}$
The word Songkran not only can be found those Thai archaeological evidences, but also being recorded by foreigners who ever lived in Thailand. Its meaning especially marked the beginning of Songkran festival, holidays, water-splashing and Siamese new year observances different the meaning of the Sanskrit word, saṅkrānti which can be found in these contemporary archives;
* De Beschryving van Japan (The History of Japan) recorded by Engelbert Kaempfer in 1690 after he sailed reached to Siam in reign of King Phetracha of Ayutthaya Kingdom, Engelbert Kaempfer handwrote of Siamese New year observance as Sonkraen in old-17th century Dutch.
* Grammatica Linguæ Thai version of J. Bapt. Pallegoix written by Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix in 1850 while was living in Siam in reign of King Rama III. There are the word Songkran both in Thai and English.
* Sappa Pachana Pasa Thai (Thai: สัพะ พะจะนะ พาสา ไท), the Thai-Latin-German-English Quadrilingual dictionary written in 1854 reign of King Mongkut, by Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix said of the word Songkran such in four languages as spelled in English; SONGKRAN, its meaning in Latin:- "Ad alium locum pergere; angelus qui praesidere anno", in French:- "Aller dans un autre endroit; ange qui préside à l'année." and in English:- "To go to another place; angel preside over the year." as well as written in the contemporary archive, Description du Royaume Thai ou Siam by Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix.
* Bangkok Calendar written in 1861 by Dan Beach Bradley, an American Protestant missionary to Siam from 1835 of The American Missionary Association (AMA), in reign of King Mongkut.
* A Journey Round the World in the Years 1875-1876-1877 by John Henry Gray, archdeacon of Hong Kong, in reign of King Chulalongkorn.
* The Siam Repository (1871) written by Samuel J. Smith, a Baptist missionary in Siam, at his office in Bangkok.
* The Pearl of Asia: Reminiscences of the Court of a Supreme Monarch (1892) written by Jacob T. Child, said of Songkran Holidays observance in Thailand.
* Siam: A Handbook of Practical, Commercial, and Political Information (1912) written by Walter Armstrong Graham, an adviser to the Thai government to the state of Kelantan (1903-1909).
Also found in these Thai contemporary archives;
* Khun Chang Khun Phaen, a Thai epic poem originated around 1600 in reign of King Naresuan, written as Songkran and described Siamese tradition observance at Wat Pa Lelai Worawihan (built in 1200 CE), Suphan Buri Province, e.g. making merit, sand parade procession to temples, forming pile of sand (sand stupas) at temples, and offering food to monks.
* The Concise Royal Chronicle of Ayutthaya Kingdom of royal forming pile of sand in reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758), written as Maha Songkran with description of tradition-inherited from past generations of King of Ayutthaya of forming pile of sand (sand stupas) with royal ornaments, offering food to monks, the sand parade procession, and musical fanfares.
* Rattana Gosa newsletter Issue of Chula Sakarat 1239 (1877 AD), reign of King Chulalongkorn, written as Songkran.$^{:34}$

## Variants

* Cambodian New Year (Choul Chnam Thmey), in Cambodia
* Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao), in Laos
* Sinhalese New Year (Aluth Avurudda), in Sri Lanka
* Songkran (Thailand)
* Thingyan, in Myanmar
* Sangken, in Arunachal Pradesh and parts of Assam, India
* Sangrai, in Bangladesh
* Water-Splashing Festival (Pōshuǐ jié), in Xishuangbanna in China and parts of northern Vietnam.

## Outside of Asia
### Australia

Songkran celebrations are held in many parts of the country. One of the most notable celebrations is at the Wat Pa Buddharangsee Buddhist Temple in the Sydney suburb of Leumeah, New South Wales. The festival attracts thousands of visitors each year and involves a water fight, daily prayer, dance performances and food stalls which serve food of Thai, Bangladesh (CHT), Burmese, Cambodian, Laotian, Sri Lankan and Malaysian origin. In 2014, the celebration was attended by more than 2000 people. Similarly in the same suburb, the Mahamakut Buddhist Foundation organizes a Songkran celebration featuring chanting, blessing, a short sermon, a fund raising food fete and Southeast Asian traditional dances. Large scale Thai New Year (Songkran) celebrations are held in Thai Town, Sydney in the popular tourist suburb of Haymarket, New South Wales. In Melbourne, the Sinhalese (Sri Lankan) New Year festival is held annually in Dandenong, Victoria. In 2011, it attracted more than 5000 people and claims to be the largest Sinhalese New Year Festival in Melbourne. The Queen Victoria Market held a two-day Songkran event celebrating the Thai New Year in early April 2017. Songkran celebrations celebrating the Thai, Cambodian, Lao, Burmese and Sri Lankan New Year festivals are well known and popular among the residents of the Sydney suburb of Cabramatta, New South Wales which is home to large populations of Cambodians, Laotians and Thais. Temples and organisations hold celebrations across the suburb including a large Lao New Year celebration in the neighbouring suburb of Bonnyrigg organised in partnership with the Fairfield City Council. In the Melbourne suburb of Footscray, Victoria a Lunar New Year celebration initially focusing on the Vietnamese New Year has expanded into a celebration of the Songkran celebrations of the Thais, Cambodians, Laotians and other Asian Australian communities such as Chinese who celebrate the New Year in either January/February or April. Taronga Zoo in Sydney, New South Wales celebrated the Thai New Year in April 2016 with its Asian elephants and traditional Thai dancers.

### United States

Songkran celebrations often occur in cities which host large Sri Lankan, Thai, Burmese, Laotian and Cambodian populations. The UW Khmer Student Association hosts a new year celebration at the University of Washington in Seattle. The White Center Cambodian New Year Street Festival is held at the Golden House Bakery & Deli in Seattle. The Los Angeles Buddhist Vihara in Pasadena, California celebrates the Songkran festival with a focus on the Sri Lankan New Year. The Brahma Vihara in Azusa, California also holds celebrations with a Burmese New Year focus. The International Lao New Year Festival is held annually in San Francisco and celebrates the Lao New Year with acknowledgment of other Asian communities, Thai, Cambodian, Burmese, Sri Lankan and the Dai people of southern China, who also celebrate the same festival. In February 2015, the Freer and Sackler gallery in Washington D.C. held a Lunar New Year event celebrating the "Year of the Sheep" which also celebrated the Lunar New Year that occurs in mid-April for many other Asian countries. It included activities, information and food from China, Korea, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and other Asian countries that celebrated either of the two new year celebrations. Similarly in 2016, The Wing in Seattle held a Lunar New Year celebration centered around the East Asian Lunar New Year however also focused on New Year customs in Laos as part of its "New Years All Year Round" exhibit.
On April 2, 2024, The legislative assembly of New York State, adopted legislative bill of Commemorating the Asian American community's celebration of Songkran on April as an important cultural event on the state as Assembly Resolution No. 1059:-
   Songkran is Thailand's most famous festival; this water festival marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year