The Songkran festival in northern Thailand, also known as the Lanna New Year, begins on April 13th. This day marks the end of the old year for northern Thais. During the New Year, people clean their homes, make merit by offering food to monks, build sand pagodas, carry sand to temples, and raise flags with the 12 zodiac animals and wooden poles to support the Bodhi tree. On April 13th, Chiang Mai holds an annual procession and bathing ceremony for the city's most important Buddha statue, the Phra Buddha Sihing, at Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan, a first-class royal temple located within the Chiang Mai moat. In 2020, Chiang Mai canceled the event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some old photos to share.

Located within the Chiang Mai moat, Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan houses Phra Singh (Phra Phuttha Sihing), a sacred Buddha image revered in Chiang Mai and the Lanna region. This Chiang Saen-style Buddha image is known as "Chiang Saen Singh One." Originally named Wat Li Chiang, Wat Phra Singh has been a royal temple since ancient times. Its construction dates back to 1888 AD, commissioned by King Phayu, the former ruler of Chiang Mai.

Every year during the Songkran festival, Chiang Mai holds a bathing ceremony for the "Phra Buddha Sihing" statue.

In the temple, there will be a display of 12 zodiac tung flags. Tung is a type of hanging flag that is a Lanna art form. The 12 zodiac tung flags, also known as the 12 new year tung flags, are used as offerings to the Buddha along with sand pagodas.

According to Lanna beliefs, people born in the year of the Goat must pay their respects to Phra Singh at least once in their lifetime.

A wide variety of local products are available for purchase.

The royal chariot, adorned with intricate carvings, carried the revered Phra Buddha Sihing image from the Phra Viharn Lai Kham temple for a procession around Chiang Mai city.

The Meaning of "Busabok"

The term "บุษบก" (pronounced "but-sa-bok") refers to a specific type of multi-tiered pavilion, varying in size, resembling a "โกง" (gable-roofed structure). Traditionally, it served as the royal seat for the monarch during ceremonial occasions. Additionally, it functioned as a platform for the veneration of sacred objects, such as Buddha statues.

A procession of dancers performed a ceremony to invite the Phra Buddha Sihing image to be placed on a float.

Offer flowers to the Buddha on a float.

The exquisite beauty of the Busabok chariot, a Lanna art form.

The revered Phra Buddha Sihing image was carried out of the Phra Viharn Lai Kham temple and placed on a beautifully decorated chariot for public veneration during the Pa We Te Pi Mai festival.

The Phra Buddha Sihing: A Sacred Icon of Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom

The Phra Buddha Sihing, a revered bronze statue gilded with gold, stands as a sacred symbol of Chiang Mai and the Lanna Kingdom. This ancient image, crafted in the serene samadhi posture, measures 79 centimeters in height and 63 centimeters in lap width. Its origins trace back to the Lankan artistic tradition, boasting a rich and enduring history.

According to legend, the sacredness of the Phra Buddha Sihing is attributed to three powerful forces: 1) the prayers of the assembled arhats, 2) the devotion of the King of Lanka who commissioned its creation, and 3) the blessings of the Buddha himself. It is believed that wherever the Phra Buddha Sihing resides, Buddhism flourishes, illuminating the path to enlightenment as if the Buddha were still physically present.

The royal palanquin was moved to Tha Pae Gate, allowing the public and tourists to participate in the auspicious ritual of bathing the Buddha statue with orange-blossom water.

Crowds of people are waiting to pay respects and bathe the Phra Buddha Sihing image.


Happy Songkran! May you all be cool and happy, like the water offered to the Buddha. May you be well and enjoy sweetness.^^

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#wat phra singh#chiang mai#songkran#thailand
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