87 7.1 The Songkran Festival The songdran or Water Festival is the traditional Thai New Year’s celebration. Generally, it is held for a period of 3 days, from April 13 to 15 - the hottest time of the year. The word “Songkran” is from Sanskrit, meaning the beginning of a new solar year. In the traditional Thai calendar, this falls in April, when the sun enters Aries. Thus, the Songkran Festival is held to mark the beginning of a new solar year. Songkran is celebrated all over Thailand, especially in the northern province of Chiang Mai and at Paklat, a riverside area of Pra Pradaeng in Samut Prakarn Province, where the occasion is celebrated to the fullest and processions are exceptionally colorful and joyful. Songkran is celebrated not only in Thailand, but also in neighboring countries, such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Questions 1. What is the Songkran Festival? 2. When is it celebrated and how long does it last? 3. What does “SongKran” mean? 4. Why is the Songkran Festival celebrated? 5. Where is the Songkran Festival celebrated? Vocabulary 1. festival - เทศกาล 2. celebrate - เฉลิมฉลอง 3. Sanskrit - ภาษาสันสกฤต 4. solar year - ปทางสุริยะคต ิ 5. Aries - ราศีเมษ 6. procession - ริ้วขบวน 88 Language Focus: Asking for and Giving Information. ในการตั้งคําถามเกี่ยวกับประเพณีหรือเทศกาลตาง ๆ นั้น นักศกษาควรตึ ั้งคําถามประเภท Wh-question ลักษณะของคําถามอาจเปนดังน ี้ 1. What is the Songkran Festival? 2. Why is it important? 3. When is it celebrated? 4. How long does it last? 5. Where is it celebrated? Question Information What is the Songkran Festival? It is the tradition Thai New Year’s celebration. When is it celebrated? From April 13 to April 15. How long does it last? It lasts for 3 days – from April 13 to April 15. Where is it celebrated? In every province of Thailand. Why is it important? To mark the beginning of a new solar year. What is the significance of Songkran? It marks the beginning of a new solar year. .