:: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

Songkran 2008 (2551) at Buddhapadipa TempleThai New Year was celebrated on the actual New Year’s Day this year (13^th April 2008) because it actually fell on a weekend day. Usually at Buddhapadipa Temple we have to move the day as, of course, Thai New Year is not a national holiday in the UK and it is only fair to arrange things so that anyone who wants can be there to celebrate. And come and celebrate people did! Although we had a gloriously bright sunny start to the day, it was not long before the April showers crowded in. We did not need to throw water at one another as people do in Thailand, as rain-drops just fell out of the sky! Regardless of the weather, the devoted and loyal Thai community turned up in their hundreds as well as many local community and western guests - and fun was had by everyone.


Just in case people could not get wet enough, Phramaha Visit (from Dhammapadipa Temple in Scotland) was sitting not far away from the Lay Buddhist Association book stall, serving out blessings with splashings of water to those seeking good merit for the year to come. In front of him were the usual stalls with their wonderful colours and (to western eyes) exotic products. Most eye-catching for me were the vegetables painstakingly carved into the imitation of beautiful flowers to be used as centre pieces on tables. This year we had an attraction that we had not seen in previous years and that was the addition of a sand pit in which you could build a sand-castle to bring you luck! All one needed of course, was a deck-chair and a bit of sunshine to make even English people feel nostalgically at home!


The local Thai restaurateurs were in their usual location in the car park and their sizzling hot food with piquant spices was particularly welcome given the inclement weather. I understand that the stall selling hot tea also did particularly well this year thanks to the chill and dampness.





As the rain continued on and off, the grass underfoot soon began to turn to mud and one might have been forgiven for thinking that one was in a field at the Glastonbury pop festival. Still, as at Glastonbury, the musicians and dancers were not to be deterred! Those children and grown-ups who had been practising their traditional Thai dancing for so many hours, braved the stage and brought great warmth and delight to people’s hearts through their performances. The traditional beauty pageant also carried on regardless, but relocated to the lower hall of the temple.


The Lay Buddhist Information desk and bookstall was not quite as bustling as on previous years. Nevertheless people came and generously gave donations and showed interest in the three or four titles of dhamma books that we could offer them. We were fortunate this year in having a fresh supply of chanting books in Thai and English, which are always popular and which consequently sell out fast.


One of the highlights for me this year was to see the local community policemen and women cheerfully joining in with the throng. I was able to offer two of the officers some tamarind fruit, which neither of them had tasted before. It is this mingling of cultures and openness to different tastes and ideas which is something that always brings great warmth and happiness to my heart and makes me realise how important such occasions are in increasing sharing and understanding. I wish everyone reading this article a very happy Thai New Year!