(13 April 2015) Between the 13th and 15th April the Water Festival, locally known as Songkran or New Year Festival, takes place in Thailand. It is one of the most colourful and merriest festivals in the entire region since it is observed in neighbouring Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia as well. Tai peoples living in the south of China and in Vietnam also celebrate the Water Festival. Songkran is derived from the Sanskrit word saṅkrānti meaning “progress” or “move forward”, describing the entry of the sun into any sign of the zodiac according to the solar calendar.
The story, illustrated with 18t h and 19th century rare painted Thai manuscripts is published by the British Library’s Asian and African Studies Blog.
