The game of the Monkey God
In addition to the festivities, there are also a variety of other services on offer for free, from haircuts and massages to health checks and legal advice. In the central plaza, in front of the stage, a tense and breathtaking sepak takraw tournament takes place. The sport of sepak takraw (aka kick volleyball) is said to have originated in India, and legend has it that it was played by the Monkey God Hanuman and a group of monkeys. Eventually it spread to Thailand, becoming one of the country’s traditional sports.
Although the scale of Taiwan’s Songkran festivities cannot compare with those in Thailand itself, they have become a focal point for Thais in Taiwan, helping build community cohesion. Both permanent immigrants and migrant workers from Thailand spread the word through social networks, encouraging each other to share in the fun as they come together for the day to chat and catch up. Many Thai residents of Taiwan bring family with them, and can be seen with their picnic blankets spread out, enjoying food and beer in the shade of the trees around the plaza. In the afternoon, Thai rocker Pee Saderd takes the stage to perform, having been specially invited for the event. Many of the Thai people in attendance make a point of staying to catch his performance, singing along and creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Huang Aili, originally from Chiang Rai, has even dressed up for the show. Wearing brand-new handmade traditional Dai clothing, a garland in her hair and a frangipani tucked atop her ear, she cuts an eye-catching figure and is warmly welcomed by the crowd.
Her daughter has come with her, handling all the bags so her mother can focus on putting on a show. “I took her by motorbike to the high-speed rail and she was already dressed up,” she says. Huang, who now lives in Tainan, still dearly loves Thailand and keeps up with events both there and in Taiwan through the Thai-language programming that is broadcast on Radio Taiwan International. Ninety-eight percent of her contacts on the instant messaging app Line are Thai.
Thai workers from all over Taiwan took a hard-earned vacation and came together to celebrate Songkran and usher in the Thai New Year.