ACTIVITY 2

     

Lao Songkran Story

Focus questions:  1. What is the difference between Lao and
                                Thai Songkran Story?                            

                                     2. What is the similarity between Lao and
                                  Thai Songkran Story?

Thammabane was clever and even knew birds’ language. So Kabinlaphom came down to the world to test his genius. He asked Thammabane three questions “Where is a man’s aura in the morning, afternoon and evening?” If Thammabane couldn’t answer in nine days, he would lose his head. But if he could, Kabinlaphom would lose his head.

          The questions were not easy. Three days passed, Thammabane could not answer. So he ran away to the forest. Luckily, he heard a couple of eagles on a large tree talking about the answers. The answers were the man’s aura was on his face in the morning, on the body or chest in the afternoon, and on the feet in the evening.

          Thammabane hurried to see Kabinlaphom and answered all questions fully. As a result of the try, Kabinlaphom had to cut off his head to pay honour for Thammabane. However, his head was very hallowed and powerful. If it touched the earth, there would be a terrible fire. And if it dropped into the ocean, the ocean would dry up.

          To keep away from ruin, Kabinlaphom called his seven daughters. They were angels of the day. He ordered them to take his split head on the golden plate. Then they had to put it in the cave of Khanthoumali. Every year, they had to take each turn to water the head and put it back in Kao Soumeloulat.