CHON BURI, April 18 (TNA) – Local islanders of Koh Si Chang
continue age-old folk tradition of carrying women to the sea as part of the
traditional Thai New Year Celebration.
After the Songkran celebrations have concluded in most parts
of the country, festivities of unique version of Songkran called Wan Lai start
in Chon Buri province.
In addition to water throwing and merit-making, people
gathered at a beach on Kham Island, Koh Si Chang district, to witness the
custom of carrying ladies into the water or Um Sao Long Nam.
Carrying on their New Year tradition by carrying women into
the sea, the people of Si Chang have passed on this fun activity for over a
hundred years, beginning in the reign of King Chulalongkorn The Great or Rama
V.
On New Year Day, men would ask the elderly to take young
ladies out to the sea. While carrying
and being carried, both exchange wishes for happiness and well- being in the
Thai New Year tradition.
Nowadays, senior citizens are being carried out at sea as
well, as a way to let them give New Year blessing.
Stage performances also entertained tourists mostly taking
day trip from nearby Pattaya city.(TNA)
