Rediscovering Bangkok during Songkran
Thailand goes wet and wild to welcome the Buddhist New Year
One of the oldest stories in Thai culture, Lilit Phra Lo, is a narrative poem about the passionate love shared by Phra Lo, a man of immeasurable beauty, with two princesses from another city. Though their love is rooted in war between their home cities, nothing is strong enough to stop their yearning for each other. It is enough to make Phra Lo travel to rival cities, not minding conflicts from the past. With the help of the Lord Tiger Spirit, the two princesses and Phra Lo meet, make love in the lake, and ultimately meet their end as
an arrow of revenge strikes all three of them down—a moment that makes for a tragic love story.
Folklore, in many ancient places, tells a people’s cultural heritage and always with values and morals to reap in the end. This particular story mirrors Thailand in more ways than one. It shows its people’s devotion to religion, respect for the monarchy, and the warmth and passion that are in the heart of every Thai. It showcases their country’s beauty, the sights to see in every city, and the prevalence of water as a central element.
Formerly known as Siam—meaning dark and brown, as a reference to its native people’s skin complexion—the country was baptized in 1939 as the Kingdom of Thailand. “Thai” is defined by George Coedès as “free.” It’s a word that fits a country as diverse as Thailand. This diversity is among the things celebrated at the water fest that is the Songkran Festival, Thailand’s New Year following the Buddhist Calendar. It was observed this year from April 13 to 16.