Students Enjoy A Good Soaking As Part Of Thai New Year Celebrations
Illawarra Mercury
Friday April 14, 2006
THERE'S more to Thai culture than green curry and pad thai, there's also water.
The wet stuff plays an integral part in Song Gran, or Thai New Year, which was celebrated yesterday throughout Thailand, and at the University of Wollongong.The newly formed Thai Students' Association of Wollongong brought the celebrations to campus in an effort to share the finer details of Thai culture.Dripping wet after a strenuous water battle with fellow students, Aimar Ratanasirisap said water traditionally played a role as a refresher and a cleanser."We use water to wash out the bad things. We can't say any bad words on New Year," he said.The April heat in Thailand makes water fights a popular tradition in streets across the country."But for the old people we give them a small cup of water politely, and that's what we do for the monks in the temples too."Born in Chiang Mai in Thailand's north, Mr Ratanasirisap has been in Australia for three years."I just want to share Thai traditions with the Australian people," Mr Ratanasirisap said.Ake Kladyoo, from Bangkok, hoped the Song Gran festival would become an annual event on the university calendar."Australian people love Thai food, so they must want to know something about Thailand," he said.Lydia Kerr said the association was trying to bring Thai culture onto campus "to make people more aware of the things Thai people have to offer."
© 2006 Illawarra Mercury
