About Sangken

About Sangken

Sangken is the New Year water festival of the Khampti and Singpho peoples of Arunachal Pradesh, kept in Namsai, Lohit and Changlang districts in mid April. The Tai Phake and other Tai Buddhist communities of Assam keep it too. It falls at the same time as the Theravada New Year of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

On the first day, images of the Buddha are taken from the kyong, the monastery, and placed in a decorated pavilion. Devotees bathe them gently with clean, scented water. It is a quiet act of respect, and a way to wash away the dust of the old year.

Then the fun begins. People splash water on each other in the streets, with buckets, bamboo pipes and water guns, as a sign of washing away bad luck and starting fresh. Young people ask elders for blessings, and families share traditional sweets and rice dishes.

During Sangken, people take vows to do good: they give food to monks, help the poor, free birds and fish, and keep their homes and minds clean. The three days end with prayers for peace and a good year for all.