By Yixian Celestial
April 14, 2026
Today is the second day of Songkran, the Thai New Year, and also the most lively one.
In the afternoon, Qudan Celestial drove the car, and Director Yangle took us out together.
There were two large plastic containers filled with water placed on the vehicle.
Yangle, Daodi, Yulin, and Baichuan stood in the back of the pickup truck, ready to receive the “baptism” of water—and to send blessings to others along the way.
Our usually quiet community suddenly felt like it was setting out on a small journey.
As soon as we entered the streets, the festive atmosphere was everywhere.
Groups of people stood along the roadside at intervals, holding water tanks or water guns, ready to splash passing cars and pedestrians.
Some used water guns, some carried buckets, and others simply poured water with basins.
Once a vehicle passed by, there was almost no chance of staying dry.
Water came from all directions.
At first, we were a bit passive.
But very quickly, it turned into a mutual exchange.
You splash me, and I splash back.
People on the truck, people on the street—everyone was laughing.
It was relaxed, natural, and full of joy.
Those standing in the back of the truck were completely soaked within a short time.
And not just once—many times.
Their clothes never really had a chance to dry.
But it didn’t feel uncomfortable.
Instead, there was a very direct kind of happiness.
Simple. Refreshing. Without too many thoughts.
In that moment, you realize something:
Happiness can actually be very simple.
Just a bit of water, a bit of interaction—and that’s enough.
In the evening, we were invited to a nearby temple.
The noise of the day gradually faded, and the air became quieter.
The abbot invited us to sit and listen to chanting.
The sound was gentle, yet steady.
Everyone sat there, slowly becoming still.
The shift—from splashing water and laughter to chanting—was very clear.
Afterward, the abbot offered us New Year blessings.
We took a group photo together.
There were no complicated rituals, but in that moment, there was a feeling of peace and calm.
It was an ordinary day, yet also a special one.
From liveliness to stillness.
From the outer world to a more inward space.
We do step into the crowd.
We do take part in celebrations.
We laugh, and we get completely soaked.
But at the end of the day,
we return to a rhythm that feels more familiar to us.
Maybe life does not have to be just one way.
It can be lively.
It can also be quiet.
And perhaps what matters is not where you are,
but where you eventually return to.
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