The Thai New Year, or Songkran, is met with much excitement (and not a little dread from visitors in the know). Songkran is known as "the Water Festival" – Thais believe that water will wash away bad luck, and spend the day liberally splashing water on each other. You were warned!
Songkran actually begins on April 13, the end of the old year, and concludes on the 15th, the first day of the New Year. Most Thais spend these days with their families, rushing home to the provinces from which they came. Unsurprisingly, Bangkok can be relatively quiet at this time of year. As Songkran is an official holiday, all schools, banks, and government institutions are closed throughout the festival’s three days.
Three Days of Songkran
For Thais, Songkran is a time for purification – houses are cleaned and Buddha statues washed, while younger folk pay their respects to their seniors by respectfully pouring scented water on their hands.
This tradition washes away bad thoughts and actions, especially when words of blessing are uttered.
On the first day of Songkran, Wan Sungkharn Long, Thais visit Buddhist temples to make merit: they give alms and food to monks. Thais also clean out their houses, sweeping out the old to prepare for the year to come.
On the second day, Wan Nao, Thais carry sand into the temple grounds and build small pagodas called chedis to make merit. The temples in their turn bring out their most sacred statues and allow visitors to douse them as a sign of respect.
The third day, Wan Payawan, is the official first day of the New Year. Images of the Buddha are washed with scented water… and on the streets, the fun really begins.
Wet and Wild
Everywhere you go, Thais wander on foot and on flatbed pickup trucks, ready to douse the first dry soul they see. Teens throw buckets of ice-cold water at passersby, or shoot people with water pistols.
Here are a few things to remember, in case you plan to be outdoors at the height of Songkran:
Anybody who goes out during Songkran is fair game. Don’t complain or lash out, or you’ll end up causing an international incident like the farang woman who slapped the boy who doused her!
Be dressed for the occasion – wear grungy clothes and waterproof your camera and electronics by bagging them in plastic.
Prepare for the following indignities: ice-cold bucketloads of water, jets of water from roving trucks, and white powder smeared on your face. Be ready to see the lighter side of being targeted by roving groups of smiling Thais with buckets and waterguns.
Enjoy Songkran for what it is – a traditional Thai holiday with the added bonus of getting wet during those notoriously hot Thai summers! See the holiday’s more traditional side at the Buddhist temples, where Thais go to make merit during Songkran.
Songkran is most joyously celebrated in Chiang Mai province, where the locals kick it off with a procession winding from Nawarat Bridge to Wat Prasingh, and ending it with a water-splashing free-for-all.
In fact, every town has its own Songkran parade, complete with floats carrying beautiful girls wearing Thai traditional costumes. Schools showcase traditional dances performed by its pupils, Songkran Beauty Pageants are held, and statues of the Buddha are displayed for lustral bathing.
More Information:
TAT Northern Office - Region 1
Tel: +66 (0) 5324 8604, (0) 5324 8607, (0) 5324 1466
Fax: +66 (0) 5324 8605
E-mail : tatchmai@tat.or.th
Website: www.songkran.net
