The story of powder

The editor of Muse magazine visits Lop Buri villages which produce din sor pong โ€” the natural white powder Thai people put on their faces and mix with water during Songkran.

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Payong Huangmit, right, and her daughter, make din sor pong droplets. CHUMPORN SANGVILERT

The story of powder

Arusa Pisuthipan

Payong Huangmitr makes a living selling din sor pong — the natural white powder Thai people put on their faces and mix with water during Songkran. During next week's festival, where revellers' faces everywhere in the country will be painted with the powder, she expects to rake it in.

"We usually earn about 15,000 baht a month. But the rising demand for din sor pong pushes up the family income and we receive more than 20,000 baht extra," said Payong, 58.

One downside of powdering faces during Songkran is that young boys can get a bit aggressive with young ladies. THANARAK KHUNTON

Pictures of Thais with the off-white powdery paste smeared on their faces has long been a symbol of the Thai New Year celebration. But the tradition of the Thai water festival has significantly changed in past years. The silver bowls people use to pour water over the elderly have been replaced by heavy-duty water pistols. Males use din sor pong paste as a way to take liberties with young ladies. Excessive use of din sor pong is also believed to cause sewer blockage.

For these reasons, certain water battlefields in Bangkok such as Silom Road and Khao San Road have banned din sor pong in past years. This year, authorities have yet to set a clear policy regarding its use.

Last Songkran, the authorities banned the use of din sor pong on Silom Road, but the powder was smuggled into the area by vendors. APICHART JINAKUL

"If the government bans the use of din sor pong during Songkran, it will definitely affect our income," she said.

A native of Hin Song Kon village in Muang district of Lop Buri province, Payong is the third generation in her family to produce din sor pong powder. Lop Buri, according to her, is one of the country's largest producers of din sor pong. Her village is one of few places in Thailand where marly limestone — natural talc used for producing din sor pong — can be found underground.

In Lop Buri, there are three villages that make the powder. In Hin Song Kon alone, 60 families earn a living by making it, using local wisdom that has been passed on from one generation to the next. Locals learn the production through on-the-job training.

Din sor pong makers call themselves chao din — soil people. Each family makes an average of more than 10 tonnes of din sor pong a month. Middlemen buy the powder at approximately 1,500 baht per tonne, which means a family earns an approximate monthly income of more than 15,000 baht from din sor pong.

An elderly villager in Ban Hin Song Kon in Lop Buri prepares the white powder for Songkran. CHUMPORN SANGVILERT

Payong's mother, Cha-aim Phuhong, has made din sor pong since she was seven years old. She follows the same routine every day, waking up as dawn breaks, beginning work and finishing before noon.

"First you sift the soil before mixing it with water," the 76-year-old explained, as she wiped the powder from her pants. "Then the mixture is left to sit there for a day or two until it becomes clay with a smooth texture. After that, the clay is ready to be shaped. The powder is all natural and fragrance-free.

"Making din sor pong is a tough job. We have to stay under the scorching sun because the clay mixture must be sun-dried. That's why we try to finish everything before midday, because otherwise it would be too hot," she added.

You can read the full story here: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/special-reports/522011/will-chao-din-take-a-powder

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