Songkran, Water Festival New Year at IBC, Korat

Students and staff of IBC Pak Thong Chai campus gathered for this annual Thai celebration despite a quiet campus due to our three-month semester break. The Songkran water festival is observed by most Buddhists in our region and their country people around the world.

Amidst busy temple schedules and activities, majority of our foreign students and staff who did not leave for home turned up full force on the evening of April 13 for New Year Chanting and prayers for world peace cum harmony. An integrated and harmonious atmosphere prevails throughout the evening with Pali, Chinese, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thai chanting; after the one-hearted chanting, we all sat and meditated to usher in the New Year. We banded together and sent our wish of metta and karuna for all sentient beings.

On April 15, we gathered and pooled our resources in providing a sumptuous homelike lunch for all. We treated ourselves to Bangladeshi, Chinese, Korean, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thai home cooking ala IBC style, of course! Having feasted, we gathered again in the afternoon for a miniature cultural exchange. In brief, we exchanged information on the significance of Songkran, how it is celebrated and other finer cultural points. We ended the day with an ancient Chinese movie of Dhamma significance. We might not have the number but yes, this Songran saw to a close-knitted and possibility of unity amidst diversity.