Water festivals of Thailand: the Indian connection

Abstract

The common heritage Indians and the Thais share are on religious, cultural, social and language level. This sharing of culture can be very well seen in festivals celebrated in Thailand. The most important festivals in Thailand are Loy Krathong and Songkran festivals which are linked to the Indian festivals. Thais celebrate Loy Krathong on the full moon in November and respect the river by floating the banana leaf cups into it and ask for forgiveness from the River Goddess Ganges. River Ganges has no connection with Thailand but still is respected by Thais on this day. It is related to the Indian festival of Kartik Purnima which gets its name from the month of Kartik (November- December). On this day people will bathe in sacred rivers as the beliefs are that Gods descend of earth and reside in the holy rivers that flow naturally for healthy growth and spiritual grace. Songkran word derived from the Sanskrit word "Sankranti" which is a Thai New Year that falls on 13th-14th of April every year. It portrays the typical ways of life of the people which are involved in the agricultural aspects in India as well as Thailand. Both the festivals are celebrated in India and Thailand with different names but with the same purpose somehow and are related to water. My paper deals with the cultural religious connection of such festivals of Thailand with India.