Yellow Mellow: Thai Songkarn festival

Yesterday, I joined hordes of Thai people and other Aucklanders at Rocket Park to celebrete the Songkarn festival or commonly known as the Thai water festival.

It is a Thai tradition to give Alms offering to Monks. There were people with silver bowls asking for donation. I was more interested into the cultural aspect of this. There were lots of food stores.

These two boys were excited to come to the water throwing. But not many people were throwing water. May be the weather was quite cool and people didn't like to get a soaking and catch a cold. They were disappointed there were no water throwing. They were very happy to pose for me.

 Beautiful boy bands, of cymbals, drums, The boys had white powder smear across their face.

 Many were burning yellow candles and incense. You have to give some money to get the candles. The burner was lotus shape.

 The shrine had a Buddha which is yellow. I don't know if it is made of gold.

 Here is where you place the incense and candles. A man was constantly removing the candles. I don't know if he was recycling them and reselling them to the devotees.

 Here is a wishing tree, a branch is wrapped with crepe paper. People give some money to get a slip of paper to write their wish and then hang then on the branches.

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