Naval Station (NAVSTA) Everett Sailors celebrated the Songkran, traditional Thai New Year, festival at a Seattle restaurant with members of the New Seattle Meditation Center April 13.

Songkran is a Sanskrit word that means “Move or Change Place,” and is the day the sun changes its position in the zodiac. This festival is also known as the Water Festival, for many people believe that water will wash away bad luck, cleansing the world for a new year.

The ceremony, celebrated here in the Dhamma Kaye (Nature, Body) school of Buddhism, started off in the morning with chanting, meditation, symbolic offerings of robes and food to the monks, then a feast of a lunch.

“My favorite part of the festival was the food,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Airman Bob Fetters, NAVSTA Everett. “The meditation was relaxing in a way.”

After lunch, all gathered for more meditation, a ceremonial cleansing of the Buddha statue, and a cleansing of the temple’s elders hands as a sign of respect for the aged.

“Every year on this date, everyone will come home, people will join together. So that we can give gifts to the people, and good merit towards those that have passed away,” said Temple abbot Phracheep Saelim. “Then those people from the temple offer the foods to the monks, do meditation, and there is an offering of food which all enjoy ... You can share this merit to the people that have passed away.”

For one Sailor, the event was a chance to learn about a different culture.

“I thought it was a lot of fun and a great learning experience,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Airman David Muther, NAVSTA Everett. “The food was different; I liked the chicken. It’s important for Sailors to learn about this type of cultural celebration because it is a part of our country’s cultural diversity.”

The Buddhist faith centers on meditation, which, according to Saelim, Americans can sometimes be too busy for.

“Many Americans worry too much about family, business or whatever,” said Saelim. “If those people had a chance to meditate once a day, even on their couch, they would benefit greatly.”