Happy Thai New Year 2565! A Traditional Buddhist Celebration at Janthra Spa Paris
To celebrate the Thai New Year, Janthra Spa organised a special event on 20 April 2022, at 5 Rue Bernard Palissy, bringing the spirit of Thailand to the heart of Paris’s 6th arrondissement.
The traditional Thai New Year, known as Songkran, is celebrated every year from 13 to 15 April. It marks the beginning of a new year according to Thai tradition, which follows a Buddhist calendar 543 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar.
Combining ancient traditions, spirituality and joyful celebrations, let’s look back at this exceptional occasion shared by the Janthra Spa team and our guests!
A BEAUTIFUL DAY OF TRADITION AND CELEBRATION
The day began peacefully, with the team preparing the spa before the arrival of our guests.
Traditional Thai music, floral decorations, beautiful traditional clothing, ceremonial tables and offerings: everything was finally ready.
The Janthra Spa team and their guests gathered on the floor, waiting for the monks to arrive.
At 11 a.m., two Cambodian Buddhist monks from a temple in Créteil arrived and quietly took their places.
Dressed in their traditional saffron-coloured robes, known as kāsāva, the monks began chanting prayers and blessings, honouring spiritual traditions and the memory of our ancestors, while expressing values of peace, tolerance and compassion.
Whether Buddhist or not, everyone present could feel the significance of the moment. The atmosphere was both peaceful and deeply moving.
Seated together before the monks, we listened to their chanting and joined in the prayers, sharing a wonderful sense of togetherness.
Then came the blessing ceremony.
One of the monks gently sprinkled blessed water over each participant and throughout the spa, continuing his prayers and offering blessings for the happiness and prosperity of Janthra Spa, its team and its guests.
OFFERINGS, BLESSINGS AND SHARED GRATITUDE
Following this emotional ceremony, it was time for the traditional offerings to the monks.
Guests presented food, drinks and other gifts as expressions of generosity and respect. In Buddhist tradition, such offerings are considered acts of merit, associated with positive intentions and good fortune.
Each participant then approached the monks in turn to receive a red thread bracelet, a traditional symbol of blessing and protection.
The ceremony concluded with a meal served first to the monks, followed by a shared lunch for everyone attending.
A DELICIOUS THAI FEAST PREPARED WITH LOVE
The meal had been lovingly prepared the previous day by the Janthra Spa massage therapists, each contributing traditional Thai dishes.
Among the delicious specialities were Pad Thai, the famous stir-fried noodle dish, Pad Kra Pao, a fragrant Thai basil stir-fry, and many other wonderful dishes featuring chicken, fish and, of course, traditional Thai rice.
The combination of flavours was simply exquisite, and everyone seemed happy, relaxed and grateful to be sharing such a special occasion.
WELCOMING THE THAI NEW YEAR 2565
This beautiful gathering marked the end of the Thai New Year celebrations and gave us the opportunity to wish one another happiness, good fortune and prosperity for the year 2565.
Happy New Year to everyone!
Or, as we say in Thai:
Sawasdee Pi Mai – สวัสดีปีใหม่
A wonderful moment of sharing, bringing together tradition, spirituality and celebration.
EXPERIENCE THE SPIRIT OF THAILAND AT JANTHRA SPA
This is the spirit that Janthra Spa strives to share with you every day in the heart of Paris’s 6th arrondissement.
Authentic traditional Thai massages, rooted in centuries-old traditions and expertise, alongside relaxing spa treatments delivered with kindness, generosity and genuine care.
Janthra Spa Paris – Discover the Art of Thai Massage and the Spirit of Thai Hospitality in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
