The delightful staff of the Amari’s Tavern by
the Sea were dressed in their Songkran finest to welcome members & guests to
the Pattaya City Expats Songkran ceremony.
Thailand has three New Year Celebrations each year. The
first is January 1, which is celebrated in most parts of the world. The
second is the Chinese New Year, which is based on a date (lunar) that
usually falls in February. The third is the Thai New Year known as Songkran.
It is celebrated in April over a 3 day period in most of Thailand; also
known as the water festival. Traditional Songkran celebration involves the
pouring of water over the hands of one’s elders. However, most expats and
tourists know it as the water throwing festival where all and sundry that
dare to go out are doused with water and powder.
For the past 4 years, the Pattaya City Expats Club has
set aside a regular Sunday meeting in April to carry out a traditional
Songkran ceremony. This year the chosen date was the Club’s meeting at the
Amari’s Tavern by the Sea on April 17, 2011. This date fell between the 3
day official celebration time and the dates designated by Naklua and Pattaya
for their celebrations. As is typical each year, the Thais and tourists
start the water throwing on the first official day and continue through the
days set aside by Naklua and Pattaya. Whereas the Club’s attendance at a
Sunday meeting is around 120, there were only 48 brave souls that ventured
out at the risk of being drenched to attend the Club’s ceremony.
Some of
the attendees at this year’s Songkran. Seated in front from left are
Prateep, former nai amphur of Banglamung and now deputy governor of Trat;
Mongkol, current nai amphur of Banglamung; PCEC chairman Michel, board
member Judith, member John, board member & former chairman Richard.
Members and guests were met at the door by Amari staff,
in traditional Thai dress, where they were given the opportunity to pour
lustral water over a Buddha statue placed at the entrance. The meeting
started with member Richard Smith inviting two honored guests to join him
and three other members to be seated at a front table that had been prepared
for the ceremony. The honored guests were Khun Prateep, Deputy Governor of
Trat Province, and Khun Mongol, Nai Amphur (District Chief) of Banglamung.
After all these “elders” were seated, the ceremony began.
Members and guests formed a line and proceeded past the “elders,” washing
their hands with lustral water and wishing them well; receiving similar
wishes in return. Khun Toy from Pattaya Orphanage, who with two of her young
charges wearing traditional Thai dresses, also honored the “elders.” Even
Amari’s wait staff and kitchen staff joined the line to honor the “elders.”
After the ceremony, Trat Deputy Governor Prateep, who was
previously the Nai Amphur for Banglamung, spoke to the audience, wishing
everyone good health and a good life for the coming year.
Master of Ceremonies David Meador then started the usual
Club meeting, calling on member Thor Halland, who everyone agrees is a font
of information as well as being an entertaining speaker, to talk about the
origins of Songkran.
Thor said that when he was asked by the Club to talk on
the subject, he had not really looked into the history of Songkran.
Consequently, he said he started his research, which showed that the word
Songkran came from the Sanskrit word Sam Krati. A word that means traveling
(sam) into something (krati). Thus, he said that Songkran (Sam Krati) means
traveling through an astrological passing.
Thor went on to explain that his research revealed that
the festival came from Hindu beliefs and related to a Hindu Festival called
Holi, which was some 2,800 or so years ago. Thor then explained how the
Hindu Festival of Holi began with events involving some Hindu deities. This
he said led him into further research where he discovered one of the deities
was named Ushas, an exalted goddess in the Rig Veda (ancient Indian sacred
collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns). He then found that Ushas was called by
other names in western history; the Greek’s Eos, the Roman’s Aurora, and old
English’s Eostre (Easter). Thor then noted the similarities between Songkran
and Easter, the full moon after Equinox, anointing with ashes, and washing
of the feet. So, Thor concluded his talk by announcing that Songkran was
really Easter.
We are not sure everyone agreed with Thor’s theory, but
it made an interesting topic that everyone enjoyed. David Meador before
updating everyone on upcoming events and conducting the always interesting
and informative Open Forum first thanked the Club’s honorary member
Sermsakdi for again making all the arrangements that led to another
successful Thai traditional Songkran ceremony.
Khomsan Seesam (left) leads staff of the Diana Group
to perform the rod nam dam hua ceremony to show their respects to Sophin
Thappajug and other elders of the community.
Phasakorn Channgam
Local political and community leaders were on hand as the
Diana Group celebrated Songkran with a traditional water-blessing ceremony.
Diana Group Managing Director Sopin Thappajug led the April
14 ceremony at the Diana Garden Resort, attended by Pattaya City Council Tourism
and Sports Committee Chairman Rattanachai Sutidechanai, Tourism Authority of
Thailand Pattaya Director Niti Kongkrut and Human Help Network Thailand Director
Radchada Chomjinda.
Sopin invited a trio of monks from Chaimongkol Temple to lead
the water-sprinkling and blessings for the occasion, which the hotel group
dubbed “Diana Family Day.”
“Today is a great opportunity for us to join in merit making
and pouring of water for blessings from the monks, to enhance prosperity of life
during the Songkran festival,” she said. “All Diana Group employees chose to
join the water-pouring ceremony to ask for blessings from respected elders and
those whom we respect. Whether they are of a subsidiary of the Diana Group, or
respected people in Pattaya City, we assume that they are family.”
(L to R)
Banchong Busarakamwong, president of Fairtex Pattaya, and Deputy Mayor
Wutisak Rermkitkarn congratulate Songpol Chanmatkit, CEO of Direct Co.,
Ltd., and Rong Kaomulkadee, presenter of Wellness Electric Massage Chair
Series 363. Actress Kotchakorn Nimakorn also offers congratulations.
Phasakorn Channgam
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn cut the ribbon as TV
Direct Co. opened Pattaya’s first “Wellness Shop” devoted to healthy
products.
The store, at the Fairtex Hotel, focuses on creating an
“open green dimension” that fosters relaxation, said TV Direct CEO Songpol
Chanmatkit. The shop stocks products to offer “wellness for the luxurious
time of life” by emphasizing quality products and services.
Among the items for sale are massage chairs, vibration
machines, water filters, bedding, medical equipment, family care products
and more.
Songpol said the grand opening was not just to sell
goods, but to give customers a chance to try the products, which are
guaranteed for five years.
He said Pattaya was a natural choice for the first
Wellness Shop as it is a city devoted to leisure, is modern and draws both
Thai and foreign tourists.
For more information, go online at TVDirect.tv.
