Hello everyone 👋

The recent Songkran Festival, celebrated annually from April 12th to 16th, marks the Thai New Year—a truly meaningful time for Thai people. During this special period, many return to their hometowns to visit parents and relatives, paying respect to ancestors who have passed away as a gesture of gratitude and remembrance. 🙏

Songkran isn’t just about tradition—it’s also about joy! 💦 The festival is filled with lively celebrations, from splashing water in the streets to the heartfelt custom of pouring water over the hands of elders to ask for blessings in the new year.

This year, I traveled with my mother, younger sister, and nieces and nephews from Tak Province to Chaiyaphum. Our purpose was to reunite with relatives and make merit in memory of our beloved ancestors. It was a trip full of family warmth, cultural spirit, and quiet reflection. 🧡

But we arrived a day later than planned—and that was entirely my fault. 😅 This year, I decided to switch from a petrol car to an electric vehicle, which turned out to be much more challenging than I expected.

EVs are still not very common in Thailand, especially for long-distance travel. Charging stations are few and far between, and each charging session takes significantly more time than refueling with petrol. ⛽⚡

To make matters more complicated, I had to plan our route carefully, checking where charging points were located and making reservations in advance—yes, you have to book your charging slot sometimes! Because of all this, our journey to Chaiyaphum was delayed by a whole day. 🚗⚡🕒

We finally arrived in Chaiyaphum around 7:30 PM. After such a long journey, everyone was exhausted and drained. 🥱 Instead of joining the festive nighttime events at the nearby temple—which included traditional performances and music—we chose to have dinner, take a shower, and go straight to bed. Rest was exactly what we needed.

The next morning, we woke up early and headed straight to the temple. Our first activity of the day was the ritual of pouring water over the ancestral stupa, which holds the ashes of our departed relatives. This is a way to show respect, gratitude, and to pass on merit to our loved ones who have passed away. 🕊️🙏

The morning atmosphere at the temple was so peaceful, it was hard to believe there had been a lively celebration the night before. 🌅 Everything felt calm and serene—almost sacred.

One of the most beautiful traditions I witnessed was the act of bringing sand into the temple. Villagers collect sand and bring it back as a symbolic gesture—returning the grains that may have clung to their feet when visiting the temple throughout the year. It’s a quiet but meaningful way to give back to a place of spiritual importance.

To make the occasion more colorful, some temples even hold sand pagoda contests, where people sculpt sand into creative shapes—from traditional stupas to imaginative designs. Each one reflects not only devotion, but also a sense of community and artistry. 🏖️✨

Carrying buckets of water, we slowly made our way along the temple walls, where countless ancestral stupas stood—each one unique in color, pattern, and shape. These small structures continue to multiply over the years, as more families dedicate stupas to honor those who have passed on. 🎨

When we reached the stupa of our own ancestors, we gently poured scented water—infused with traditional Thai floral fragrance—over it in a ritual of remembrance. This simple yet sacred act reminded us of the importance of honoring those who came before us, and of keeping their memory alive through acts of respect and gratitude. 💧🌼

Later in the morning, we made our way to another temple at the edge of the village. This one was hosting a Songkran celebration complete with the traditional bathing of Buddha images and festive activities. 🛕🎉

The temple grounds were filled with locals of all ages, each waiting their turn to gently pour scented water over the Buddha statues—a gesture of respect, purification, and a wish for blessings in the year ahead. The atmosphere was both lively and heartfelt, blending tradition with joy in the most beautiful way. 💛🌸

It was an incredibly hot day, the kind that makes the pavement shimmer and the breeze feel like a warm sigh. ☀️🔥 But even under the blazing sun, people continued to arrive, one after another, to take part in the sacred tradition of bathing the Buddha images.

Their devotion shone just as brightly as the sun itself—undaunted by the heat, united by faith, and carried by the spirit of the Thai New Year. 🙏💫

*The temple grounds were alive with the sights and sounds of a true Thai village fair. 🎪✨ There were traditional performances, music, laughter, and rows upon rows of local stalls selling everything from street food and desserts to toys and handmade crafts.

The whole scene felt like a joyful blend of culture and celebration, where faith met festivity, and people of all ages came together to enjoy the moment. 🍢🎶🧸

🧡 This trip to Chaiyaphum reminded me that Songkran is more than water fights—it's a celebration of family, faith, tradition, and the precious time we share with loved ones.

Even in the intense heat and the travel hiccups, every moment felt meaningful. Whether it was pouring water over an old stupa or watching children laugh near the local fair, these little things stitched together a memory I’ll carry with me for a long time.

I’m grateful for this journey—and for the chance to reconnect not just with my relatives, but also with the beautiful simplicity of Thai culture. Until next Songkran... 🙏🌸💦

Thank you for your support
ขอบคุณสำหรับการโหวต
เลิฟนะยู้ววววววว 💕