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Celebrating water festival the Thai way Time to celebrate and rejoice, like during Songkran, comes only once a year when traffic on the streets of Bangkok is light and moving around the city is a breeze. How about making merit to herald the start of the Thai New Year?
Other than Sanam Luang, or the Royal Ground, where the sacred statue of Phra Buddha Si-hing is placed until April 15, there are several temples where you can bask in the spirit of Songkran and join in the religious rites typical of this most important of holidays in the national calendar. Here are a few suggestions. - TEMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA A must-visit site, the temple, also called Wat Phra Kaew, is located in the compound of the Grand Palace just south of Sanam Luang. The temple houses Phra Kaew Morakot, a highly revered 500-year-old emerald figurine of Lord Buddha. - The temple is open daily from 8:30am-3:30pm. Visitors are required to dress properly - slippers and sleeveless shirts are no-nos. - WAT PHO Wat Pho, also called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, will hold rites like religious chanting of monks, bathing the Buddha, and side activities such as the building of sand pagodas, folk song and dance performances, exhibitions and sale of local products until April 16. - For more information, call 02-221-4843 during 8am-4pm. - WAT SUTHAT Wat Suthat is also observing Songkran April 13-15. Visitors can bathe the Buddha image at Satha Maha Satharn, offer alms to monks, hear them chanting hymns and pray for an auspicious start to the new year. Located on Bamrung Muang Road next to the Giant Swing, Wat Suthat is famous for its numerous Buddha images. Its grounds will play host to a temple fair that will feature among others, folk music and song. - For further information, ring the temple at 02-222-6935. - THE TEMPLE OF DAWN Called Wat Arun locally, it was briefly home of the Emerald Buddha statue before it was moved to Wat Phra Kaew where it sits today. The Temple of Dawn's highlight is a 104-metre high prang or spire-shaped pagoda. Devout Thai Buddhists believe that if you walk three rounds around the prang and make a wish, it'll come true. But don't forget to step inside the chapel to pay respect to the principal Buddha image there. Located on the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya River, the temple opens from 8:30am-5:30pm. You can get there either by bus or by boat. - For more information, call Wat Arun at 02-465-5640. - WAT SAKET Wat Saket or the Golden Mount Temple is not an ordinary shrine. Sitting on a man-made hill, its distinct Ayutthaya-style architecture stands out. Climbing up the temple you get an excellent view of Rattanakosin Island and beyond that the Chao Phraya River. On the way to the top you will see several Sri Lankan-style stupas. - For more information, call 02-223-4561. - WAT CHANA SONGKHRAM In naming it so, its builder is believed to have dedicated the temple to soldiers who were victorious on the battlefield. At least, that is how the name translates into Thai. If you are looking for inner strength and conviction this is the place to be. It is located just across the road from the backpackers' paradise of Khao San Road, the place where most of the action will be concentrated during the three days of Songkran revelry. After the prayers, pack your water guns and pistols and arrive their loaded for the action that continues well after the sun has set. - For more information, call 02-281-6931. Too bad we can't list all the temples worth visiting during Songkran Festival. But no matter where you choose to go, be prepared to get soaked because that is the order of the day! |
