Songkran Festival
EY Songkran Ceremony
The EY Songkran Festival this year has a variety of activities. We started the festival with “Thai Flower Threading Activity” (ร้อยดอกไม้ / roy-dok-mai) on Tuesday, April 7th, during regular Thai classes at the Amphitheater.
With the teacher’s guidance, students had an opportunity to explore how to thread the Thai flowers Dok-rak (ดอกรัก) and Dok-lee-laa-wa-dee (ดอกลีลาวดี), then they brought them home to share their pride and happiness with their family.
At the EY Songkran Ceremony, the students, teachers and administrators came to school with Thai floral shirts and traditional Thai fabric outfits in soft-toned colors to show respect during the mourning period for the Queen Sirikit. We were so grateful to have the PYP Representative Parents to showcase The Eight Styles of Thai Royal Attire, known as ชุดไทย พระราชนิยม ๘ แบบ, which was introduced and promoted by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother of Thailand. These costumes reflect Thailand's cultural heritage and are worn on various occasions ranging from informal gatherings to formal royal ceremonies. After that, the students had the opportunity to “รดนำา้ขอพร” (rod-naam-khor-pon) by paying respects to the teachers and the PTA representatives. They were pouring scented water over the palms of the adult hands, then adults wished the students good luck and prosperity.
Lastly, EY Songkran Fun Water Activities, K2 and K3 students engaged in water activities and enjoyed themselves with different water stations, and they were very excited to splash their teachers! It was such a joyful atmosphere.
Kru Aim
EY Thai Team Leader
PY Songkran Celebration 2026
Every year, our school proudly celebrates Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year, as a way to preserve and promote the beauty of Thai culture and traditions. The celebration always brings great joy, excitement, and happiness to students, teachers, and parents as everyone comes together to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
The event began with beautiful performances by the Thai instrumental ensemble and Thai dance group, featuring students from the primary level through high school, creating a wonderful atmosphere of Thai culture and tradition. At the Grand Theater, we were also honored to have representatives of the PYP parents join us as honorary models in the fashion presentation of the elegant and culturally significant Chut Thai.
Their participation added great warmth and value to the celebration while highlighting the beauty of Thai heritage. In addition, students took part in the traditional Rod Nam Dam Hua ceremony, where they respectfully poured scented water over their teachers’ hands and asked for blessings as a gesture of gratitude and respect. To conclude the celebration, everyone enjoyed fun water activities and traditional Thai games together, filling the day with laughter, smiles, and unforgettable memories.
As we welcomed the Thai New Year together, we would like to wish all families in our school community happiness, good health, prosperity, and many joyful moments throughout the year ahead. May this new beginning bring brightness, success, and warmth to every family. Happy Thai New Year!
Kru Nid
Secondary School Songkran Celebration
“Still on my mind.”
Our Songkran celebration atmosphere was filled with joy, warmth, and respect. Thai instruments gracefully played in the background, enhancing the atmosphere while children took turns paying respects to administrators and teachers through a traditional water-pouring ceremony. Most people wore traditional Thai attire or colorful outfits, creating cheerful, lively ceremonies. Smiles and laughter could be heard and seen on everyone’s face. This event not only celebrated the Thai New Year but also reminded everyone of the importance of respect.
One of my most memorable parts was the Grade 9 musical performance of royal compositions, which made the celebration unique and meaningful. The first performance of the song “
” or “Love at sundown” created a gentle and relaxing mood featuring many instruments. As the song mentions the beauty of the evening atmosphere, it matched the feeling of the Songkran celebration. This was followed by the song “ในดวงใจ
” or “Still on my mind,” beautifully performed, evoking an emotional response as it expresses gratitude and respect. The performances were also presented in remembrance and mourning of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, who will forever remain in our hearts.
For our Songkran ceremony, one of the highlights of the show was the Nang Songkran parade. The นางรากสษเทวี procession centers on gratitude. The Nang Songkran are the 7 daughters of the four-faced god named “ท้าวกบิลพรหม” Once every year, they agreed to take turns to cherish their father’s head by rinsing and sprinkling it with scented water. One of the daughters carries it on a golden tray and forms a procession together with all other gods and heavenly beings, circumambulating Mount Meru. This demonstrates the benevolence and gratitude the Nang Songkran has towards their father.
Additionally, the seven daughters of ท้าวกบิลพรหม symbolize the seven days of the week; each daughter has their own particular name and mount that they ride on. The daughter who carries ท้าวกบิลพรหม’s head during the Songkran day is known as the Lady of Songkran, นางสงกรานต์. For this year, the Maha Songkran day was on Tuesday, so the Songkran lady is นางรากสษเทวี. She wears a lotus flower tucked behind her ear and is decorated with mora gemstones. Her favorite food is blood, and she carries a trident and a bow as her weapons. She rides upon a boar as her mount.
Moreover, our Songkran ceremony also served as an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of Thai culture and heritage. One of the most elegant expressions of Thai culture is Traditional Thai dress, known as ชุดไทยพระราชนิยม. Our Grade 9 students wore the eight styles of the ชุดไทยพระราชนิยม, showing the uniqueness of each costume.
The eight styles are:
ชุดไทยเรือนต้น: named after the เรือนต้น Paviollion in Dusit Palace, the simple and least formal style, with a round neck blouse and a patterned skirt
ชุดไทยจิตรลดา: named after the จิตรลดา villa in Dusit Palace, a ceremonial daytime wear with a standing collar and long sleeves
ชุดไทยอมรินทร์: named after the อมรินทร์ Throne Hall in the Grand Palace, an evening dress made of silk and metal thread brocade
ชุดไทยบรมพิมาน: named after the บรมพิมาน Throne Hall, an evening ceremonial dress, a fitted blouse with a standing round neckline
ชุดไทยดุสิต: named after the ดุสิตมหาปราสาท Throne Hall, a formal evening gown, featured a wide, round neckline and a sleeveless blouse
ชุดไทยจักรี: named after the จักรีมหาปราสาท Throne Hall, a semi-formal evening attire, the top leaves one shoulder exposed and is draped with a pleated or embroidered สไบ
ชุดไทยศิวาลัย: named after the ศิวาลัยมหาปราสาท Throne Hall, is worn at both daytime and evening royal ceremonies, similar to ชุดไทยบรมพิมาน (includes a shoulder cloth worn over the blouse)
ชุดไทยจักรพรรดิ: named after the จักรพรรดิพิมาน Throne Hall, the most formal of the eight styles, the skirt is pleated and made from silk and metal-thread brocade, distinguished by its elaborately pleated สไบ and an additional shoulder cloth known as สะพัก
Overall, the ceremony was a meaningful way of preserving Thai culture and traditions. Through all the performances, activities, and Thai national costumes, everyone gained an appreciation of Thai culture and understood the importance of respect.
By Plearn and Candy Grade 9
