The word “Rod-Nam-Dum-Hua” is from the northern Thai dialect and means a water-pouring ceremony to ask forgiveness and blessings from a respected elder. Participants wash all over the body using Kaffir lime juice or a soap pod is commonly used as a shampoo. “Dum-Hua”, means to wash the hair. But in the ceremony, especially during the annual Songkran festival, it means to wash away life’s unfavorable conditions by using a soap pod.
Rod-Nam-Dum-Hua is considered to be one of the most beautiful traditions that Thai people have inherited. Water is poured reverently on elders, senior relatives or respected persons whilst we ask for their forgiveness and to say sorry for anything we may have done wrong against them in the past year, either by action, speech or thought, by attention or neglect.
Rod-Nam-Dum-Hua is sometimes is called “Traditional New Year’s day”, because it is held annually from the 13th to the 15th of April, or “Songkran day” which is known as New Year’s Day of Thailand. Mostly, Rod-Nam-Dum-Hua Tradition takes place only on the last day of the Songkran period which is April 15. But for the monks there are more rites to do. Before pouring water on monks, we have to pour water on a statue of Buddha. Next, we accept the blessing from the monk. We can do this every day, from the beginning to the end of Songkran. After the ritual, there is time to be together with friends and relatives to relax and have fun.
There are a few things we need for Rod-Nam-Dum-Hua; they are perfume, soap pods, carpel, a tray with flowers, joss sticks and a candle and maybe some cloth or a little gift to say sorry and ask the elders for forgiveness and wish them happiness and health. We use a small bowl for the perfume and pour it on the elder’s hands. He will take the soap pod and touch our head which means that he accepts our apology and he is ready to forgive us.