'Nobody was spared'

[PeterUK]

Now that Songkran is almost upon us again and the usual pro versus anti views have started to appear, I thought some might like to read this extract from the notes of a Dutch merchant on a trade delegation to the Lao court in 1642. It has a familiar ring to it:
'This New Year's time is held in high esteem in this land, because on the 10th of April the king went also (as was his habit) with his wives to the river, where on a sandbank a few houses for enjoyment had been constructed. Here he was joined by all the dignitaries of the realm and, under great rejoicing, they started to pour water over each other until they were dripping wet. Nobody was spared.'

[thaiguest]

Now that Songkran is almost upon us again and the usual pro versus anti views have started to appear, I thought some might like to read this extract from the notes of a Dutch merchant on a trade delegation to the Lao court in 1642. It has a familiar ring to it:
'This New Year's time is held in high esteem in this land, because on the 10th of April the king went also (as was his habit) with his wives to the river, where on a sandbank a few houses for enjoyment had been constructed. Here he was joined by all the dignitaries of the realm and, under great rejoicing, they started to pour water over each other until they were dripping wet. Nobody was spared.'

What an interesting piece of research. Thank you.

If this practice could remain in the realm of the sublime all would be fine but to think that the yahoos on Soi Buakao are spewing filthy water in this same tradition is hard to swallow. But swallow it we must.