Bring out the water hoses, and don’t be afraid to get a little wet! Songkran, a festival marking the Thai New Year, is all about making a fresh start with a splash, and it’s Thailand’s biggest and most important annual festival.
The Songkran festival in Thailand kicks off on April 13 and usually lasts three days, though festivities can start early or end later in some cities. The key days of the The New Year are Wan Nao on April 14th, which is Thai New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day on April 15th.
The holiday’s main focus is about moving forward. In fact, the word Songkran comes from a phrase in the Sanskrit language that means ‘to enter’ or ‘pass into’ and it refers to the movement of the zodiac.
Water plays a major role in the festival. Symbolically the water washes away the previous year so people can get ready for the next one. The festival also marks the start of the rainy season, and one of the hottest times of the year. But there are also many other Songkran traditions the use water as well, such as the cleaning of homes, offices, and public spaces.
A Time For Family & Tradition
At this time of year family members who have moved away often return home for the holiday to spend time with loved ones. Many families wake up early during Songkran and visit Buddhist temples, where they bring offerings such as food and listen to the teachings of monks.
Visitors sprinkle clean or scented water over statues of Buddha to represent purification and good fortune. Younger people also pour water on the hands of older relatives and friends to show their respect and ask for blessings in the coming year.
Honoring family traditions and religious practices are important parts of Songkran, but so is having some fun.
A Time For Fun
Outside of the temples, Songkran is celebrated with street parties featuring loud music and a giant friendly water fight.
Revellers will ‘bless’ one another by putting ‘din sor pong’, a limestone-derived cooling talcum powder paste, on each other’s faces. There have been attempts to ban it in recent years because it’s sometimes used inappropriately. But it’s still a regular feature of the festival and is generally used respectfully.
During the massive water fight people collect water in buckets, squirt guns, and anything else they can find. Then they hit the streets to playfully splash each other.
It’s a good thing April is one of the hottest months of the year in Thailand!
Where to Celebrate Songkran?
If you’re ready and willing to get soaked for three days straight, Bangkok is the place to be for Songkran. Khaosan Road is the epicentre for backpackers, and is guaranteed to have thumping parties and crowded water fights. Siam, in central Bangkok, is also primed for Songkran. Silom Road is another hub, with LGBTQ-friendly parties along Soi 4 and a major annual pool party at W Bangkok hotel.
To see the more traditional side of the festival, head to riverside temples.
Do youwWant sun, sea and sand while getting soaked? The beachside town of Pattaya extends its Songkran celebrations for a full week.
Are You Ready to Experience Songkran?
If you’re in Thailand at Songkran, be ready to get wet.
Feel free to join in the celebrations but be respectful: don’t splash monks, elderly people, or babies,
Have you experienced Songkran? If you haven’t would you like to? Let us know in the comments.
