Mission Minutes from the Isaan Team

This weekend is the beginning of the Thai New Year. Almost all Isaan people are celebrating the most special holiday/festival for the Isaan people. The name of this festival is Songkran. The word "Songkran" is from the Sanskrit language and it means "a move or change in the position of the sun from Aries to Taurus". Songkran marks the end of a 12-month cycle and starts the Thai New Year. This festival is celebrated with enthusiasm, nation-wide for 4 days. It is Thailand’s most "sanuk" (fun filled) festival. The Isaan people celebrate Songkran with the same gusto as Americans celebrate Christmas. This is also an important family holiday. Most Isaan return home to visit their families during Songkran, On the first day of Songkran everyone is supposed to clean out their houses and get ready for the new year. There may be parades on this day. One thing that is still important in celebrating this festival is making merit (doing good deeds). Isaan people believe in reincarnation, therefore they want to do something good (make merit) that will help them gain a better life when they are reincarnated into their next life.

In the morning, the Isaan go to the temple to give gifts to the monks and wash the Buddha images. In the afternoon, they go to the temple and work together to build a small pagoda. They decorate the pagodas with colorful flags and flowers. The tradition behind the building of a pagoda reflects an ancient belief that every time people walk away from the temple, they inadvertently carry away sand from the temple grounds. When the villagers go in and build the pagodas, they are replacing the sand lost over the past year therefore gaining merit (gain something to help them in their next life).

During the Songkran festival most people go home to visit their families. They eat together and have fun. They work together to prepare offerings to take to the temple. They also have a water pouring ritual in which the younger folks pour water on the hands of their elders. This is considered a sign of respect and reverence. The younger person may also be seeking blessings or forgiveness of past wrong doings from the elder person. The water fighting is the most fun-filled part of the celebrating. If you walk or ride a motorcycle down the streets during Songkran, you probably will get wet. The Isaan folks love to water fight during Songkran. This part of the celebrating is probably just a way for everyone to beat the heat. April is the hottest month in Thailand. The main thing that an outsider may notice during the Songkran festival is the partying and drunkenness. The highways are busy just like they are in America during 4^th of July. Many people die during the Songkran festivals from alcohol related accidents.

There is much tradition (religious and folk rituals) behind the Songkran festival. All in all, most Isaan are just hoping for good luck and prosperity during the coming up New Year. As you reflect on the different culture and religious beliefs of the Isaan people, please pray for their lostness. As we have mentioned many times before, there are more than 18 million Isaan with less than 1% Christian. Tomorrow, on Easter Sunday, as you enjoy the wonderful knowledge of Jesus Christ’s resurrection and His power to change lives, pray that He will change the lives of the Isaan people.