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 It's Not Raining, it's Thai New Year By Heamakarn Sricharatchanya The traditional Thai New Year celebration held at both Columbia University and a Thai temple in Queens left revelers soaking wet, despite the clear blue sky. April 13 or Songkran Day marks the Thai New Year. “Songkran” is a Sanskrit word meaning to move or change. It refers to the orbit of the sun moving into Aries zodiac, signifying the beginning of a new solar year. Thailand, together with other countries in Southeast Asia like Burma and Laos, celebrates the day with a festival of renewal.
Thais pour scented water, a symbol of cleansing and purifying, on the hands of the elderly to show respect. Teenagers have embraced the ceremony in their own way, splashing water on each other to cool off during Thailand’s hottest month. According to the Royal Thai Consulate-General in New York, there are approximately 8,000 Thai immigrants in the city. The actual Thai population is much greater, as many Thais staying more than six months neglect to report their arrival to the consulate. Despite being half a world away from their motherland, Thai immigrants have found places on this alien soil to celebrate their important cultural event. This year, the Thai Student Association of Columbia University held a Songkran celebration on the school’s campus, while a citywide event was held at a Buddhist temple in Elmhurst, Queens. Approximately 50 people, mostly students from campuses throughout the city, gathered at the event held on Saturday, April 15 at Columbia. The larger celebration was held at the temple the following day. “The event is held because of our nostalgia,” said Adisak Jantatum, a senior Thai student who studies political science at Columbia University. “Although we do not have relatives here to celebrate the festival with, we have other Thai students who become our family.” Warit Mitthumsiri, president of the Thai Student Association, said there are more than 30 Thai students at Columbia, many of whom have been away from Thailand since their freshman year. Mitthumsiri, who has been in New York City for more than three years, said the celebration comforts him. “Meeting other Thai students, seeing Thai films, listening to Thai music and eating Thai food make me miss home less,” he said. According to Thanad Kangsamaksin, the association’s former president, the first Songkran celebration was held at Columbia in 1997. The annual celebration is the largest the association sponsors. “It is held to promote Thai culture,” he said. “It’s the event where the Thais gather the most.” Phra Maha Niphon Tithaweerakuno, a monk at the temple in Queens, said the celebration attracts the largest crowd. The temple, decorated with Thai flags of red, white and blue welcomed more than 300 attendees. Some of them wore traditional costumes to celebrate the new year. The celebration brings the Thai community in New York together every year. “We want to preserve and promote our culture among the Thais and others,” Phra Maha Niphon Tithaweerakuno said. “This is also a good opportunity for the Thai descendants born here to learn about their own culture. Many Thai children have gone back to Thailand only once or twice in their lifetimes.” The celebration also promotes Thai culture to the rest of the city. Emilia Crotty, an American who joined the event in Elmhurst after reading about it in The New Yorker, said the festival gave her a better understanding of Thai culture. “I want to experience the authentic Thai event, though I’ve never been there,” she said. “I’m glad they have the Songkran celebration in New York,” said Supanika Leurcharusmee, a Thai graduate student at New York University, who has been in the U.S. for more than five years. “I used to celebrate the festival every year when I was home, and I miss it,” she said. |
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© 2006 NYC24 is a production of the New Media Workshop at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism |
