The Salung Luang procession is organised by the Lampang Municipality during April 10-14 every year, which coincides with the Songkran Festival period. It is regarded as the traditional Thai New Year, according to the ancient Lanna tradition. Once the procession begins, a sacred Budhha image will be brought out from the temple and carried through the streets around the city centre in order for Lampang people as well as tourists to sprinkle water on the Buddha image as to mark an auspicious beginning of the Thai New Year, as well as wish for happy and peaceful life. Several main streets in the city centre will be closed to allow massive crowds of hundreds including youngsters, locals and tourists to splash water onto each other. During this period, it is a time for family gatherings since all the family members going to work in other provinces, especially Bangkok, in the past 12 months will come back home to celebrate the Thai New Year. There is also a unique tradition of paying respect to the elder called 'Rod Nam Dum Hua' in which the young will pour scented water onto the elder's hands – parents' and other respected elder relatives' – so as to ask for forgiveness, receive blessings and wish themselves good luck, happiness and prosperity throughout the year. Furthermore, Lampang people will carry sand into the temple, which has been an immemorial custom of the local people. There are a great number of Buddhists who habitually go to make merit and a karmic giving at the temple each year.