Celebrating Thai New Year with a Splash: Songkran Water Festival at Camillian Home เฉลิมฉลองปีใหม่ไทยอย่างชุ่มฉ่ำ: เทศกาลสงกรานต์ที่บ้านคามิลเลียน
This year Songkran came early at Camillian Home for children living with disabilities. We decided to celebrate the Thai New Year on Wed 9 April so that all the daycare children and their families could join, in case some were going out of town for the holiday.
Camillian Home staff spent all morning making preparations, decorating, and filling up water tanks for the big water fight! At around 9 am the kids were given their brand new water guns donated by Mugendai restaurant, whose generous monetary contributions were also used to buy a kids’ pool so the children could have a fun time splashing around!
Everyone had such a great time getting soaked and pouring or spraying water on their friends. Even our children with multiple disabilities were laughing and having a blast.
One of Camillian Home’s resident boys big was still recovering from his surgery but he also had a water pistol and was joining in on the fun. At one point our volunteer Izzy brought Big into the kid’s pool and supported his body so Big could enjoy swimming.
As part of the Songkran tradition, younger children have to pay respects to the older generation washing their hands with scented water. Our staff ad daycare parents were lined up as each child took turns sprinkling water on their hands.
“It is amazing! This is the first time in my life that I saw children (younger people) pouring water to the older people’s hands to show their respect in Thai they call ‘Rod Nam Dum Hua Poo Yai’ ceremony. And I saw our kids enjoy playing water just like they’re having a water war! Moreover, through my eyes I saw our kids learned how to share their water-guns, food, and help each other as well,” said Camillian Home staff, Khun Benjarat.
All the children and staff had fun throwing water to each other. Fahsai our little girl was crying when it was time for her to have lunch because she didn’t want to leave the water fight.
At lunch time the kids and all of the guests had a feast of all their favorite Thai foods and traditional desserts sponsored by our kind donors the Fischer-Zernin family. There was also pizza and cakes brought by one of the guests.
Many thanks to everyone who came to celebrate Songkran with the children, especially the volunteers who helped to take care of the kids, and all those who contributed to this special day! Photos below courtesy of Camillian Home volunteer Sam Silby.

Camillian Home resident child Fahsai pouring water on the elders to show respect customary on Songkran

Camillian Home resident boy Big and volunteer Izzy having fun on Songkran in the kid’s pool sponsored by Mugendai