This research consists of 3 aims :- 1) to study of developed history and concept of Songkran festival, 2) to study of events of Songkran in Ban-Maisukhasem, Kongkrailas, Sukhothai, 3) to study the value of morality in Songkran Festival to the community of Ban-maisukhasem, Kongkrailas, Sukhothai. It is qualitative research which studied from a primary source appearing in Thai Tipitaka and secondary one from commentary texts including other books. The form in keeping in data is interview form from 20 sampling people in the area of research :- Ban-Maisukhasem, and its analysis is descriptive.
The result of the research is found that : -
Songkran festival is regarded as the tradition which is concerned with Buddhism and as the center of nice expressions from physical, verbal and mental action. It is good relation. The history is developed from the games in summer after harvest season on 13th 14th 15th of April in every year. In Thai Tradition, it is the festival in the fifth month of 12 months called Heetsipsong. This festival has so much benefit since it makes regulation and discipline from moral question about 3 zodiacs or glories of Kapilabrahma and Dhammapala kumara. It teaches us morality. The activity of this festival could build love among family, relatives, friends and Buddhism. There are the puzzle activities which conveys the Dhamma i.e. Pheetakhon (ghost) telling about mindfulness and carefulness. The action of pouring water to senior people telling about paying respect them as veneration person. The pouring of water to Buddhist monk telling about peacefulness and mental purity. Making sand pagoda telling about making reparations of sand sticking our foots outside the temple. Songkran is regarded as the important days and good opportunity of Thai, namely:- to be family day, senior people day, reunion day of relatives, day of dedication to the dead, forgiveness day and national fisheries day.
In Ban-Maisukhasem community, there are the major events of Songkran festival which is dedication to the dead, making of compensating sand pagoda, chanting at front and behind of village, showing of Pheetakon, taking a bath for Buddha Image and Buddhist monks, pouring water to senior people, freeing birds and fishes, parading of beeswax castle and making good environment of the village. This community believes in the Songkran festival as a high value activity. The valuable important point is the moral question 3 zodiacts of gods, namely: - in the morning, the zodiac glues his face meaning to take care his health and beauty of oneself before working outside home, in the afternoon, the zodiac glues his chest meaning cool water on his chest to be patient in hot weather without angriness and in the night, the zodiac is in feet meaning watching feet of oneself before going to bed for not making bed dirty and disease inserting our body. Besides, the community accept that this festival is valuable not only for oneself but also for family, religion and society as a whole. In Songkran, the community love and union for the conservation of this festival. They forgive each others during Songkran or after it. It is considered that the forgiveness is one of making merit and Dhammadana as mentioned by the Buddha;- to give
Dhamma, it wins all gifts.
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