In the Songkran legend, what happens to Thao Kabinlaphrom’s head after his death?
Answer
It is carried by his daughters
In the Songkran legend, Thao Kabinlaphrom’s head is carried by his daughters after his death.
The story says that Thao Kabinlaphrom loses a riddle contest to the wise young man Thammaban Kumara. He must then cut off his own head, but the head is dangerously powerful: touching the ground would cause fire, while placing it in the sea would dry the water. His daughters therefore take turns carrying it.
The seven daughters, known collectively as Nang Songkran, are associated with the days of the week. Each year, one daughter carries the head in a ceremonial procession before returning it to a mountain cave. This mythological cycle helps explain why the daughters appear in Songkran imagery and pageants.
The tale is a legend rather than a historical account, and printed versions may differ in details such as names and descriptions.