The Thai Songkran Festival where everyone goes wild — don’t expect to get home dry if you go out

Photos & Text /Xiao Sheng
Xiao Sheng returned to northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai in April this year specifically to celebrate the annual SONGKRAN Festival, also known as the Water Splashing Festival. The festival runs from April 13th to 15th. Having already enjoyed Loy Krathong last November, he certainly wasn’t about to pass up this major annual event. That means I’ve now experienced both of Chiang Mai’s key festivals. Although I had initially hoped to report live, life in Thailand was so action-packed that I’m only sharing the experience now. I hope you’ll all make it to Chiang Mai next year to take part in this fantastic yearly event.

Songkran is to Thailand what our Lunar New Year is to Taiwan, except that in Thailand, the New Year is celebrated by splashing water on one another — symbolizing renewal and a fresh start. It’s said that traditionally, people would sprinkle water on Buddha statues at temples to pray for blessings, but over time, the custom evolved into splashing water on all passersby, whether you know them or not. This has turned into Thailand’s most unique celebration.


Although the official Songkran Festival starts on the 13th, sporadic attacks actually began as early as the 10th. I got soaked while riding my motorcycle around the city, and at the foreigner-heavy A Little Bird Guesthouse where I was staying, the big water barrels were ready as early as the 11th. Foreigners can get just as crazy as the locals, and everyone was having an amazing time even before the festival officially kicked off.


For Songkran, you’ve gotta gear up with your weapons (hey, everybody — bring out the big guns!), and that means all kinds of water guns. These were all pooled together by guests at A Little Bird, but aside from one particularly powerful water gun brought by a local, none of them really impressed me. My favorite weapon? The bucket — cheap, effective, and though it only delivers one splash at a time (not as sustained as a water gun), it holds way more water and feels way more satisfying when you hurl it. Hehe~


On the first day of Songkran, the main battlefield in Chiang Mai was along the moat that encircles the ancient city. Many locals and tourists scooped up water directly from the moat to splash each other, but maybe it was just my imagination, the water level in the moat seemed to get lower with each passing day over the three-day festival XD. Also, the moat water wasn’t exactly clean (it was actually pretty filthy XD), but hey, no fear when you’re in the mood for Songkran.


Near Tha Phae Gate, the action started early in the morning. The first major hotspot was east of the gate at Tha Phae itself, the second was the north gate, while the south and west sides saw slightly less intense attacks. If you want to avoid the festival and go sightseeing elsewhere, leave before 9 AM when the battle hasn’t started yet, and only come back after 7 PM when everyone’s called it a day XD.


The area around Tha Phae Gate is Chiang Mai’s liveliest spot, and Songkran is no exception. Crowds of people roam around drenching everyone they see. Whenever someone splashes me, I wait until they’re fully in the zone, then sneak around behind them for a surprise attack. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of dumping a bucket of water over someone’s head. Haha~


Over the course of the three-day festival, the ground never once dried up. I modified my camera and hid in a corner to shoot photos. The best photo spot was by the moat, but that’s prime combat zone, so to protect my gear, I settled for second best.




Many locals and tourists rent or drive pickup trucks and tuk-tuks to cruise around the moat area. While attacking from above is more satisfying, being stuck in that gridlocked traffic also makes you a highly visible and easy target — there’s no dodging anything. (Honestly, during this time, it’s all about the fight — no escaping XD)


 
There were also plenty of vendors selling huge blocks of ice by the moat, all in the name of boosting their splash power. When someone unexpectedly dumps a bucket of icy water on your back, the feeling is really something else X. Sometimes you can’t even tell if Songkran is about blessings or mutual torture, haha~


Adding ice cubes to the water isn’t even the meanest trick — the worst is crushed ice. Not only does it feel unbearably cold, but it also elicits shrieks when it hits you. I got some crushed ice from those prepping it and returned fire on the attackers who went hardest on us. Hearing their screams gave me a strangely satisfying sense of revenge, haha~


During Songkran, some larger shops set up big stages and invite attractive performers to liven up the annual festivities and boost the festive atmosphere.

Usually, when you see that mischievous grin, you should watch out — they’ll suddenly dump a bucket of cold water right over your head XD. And if you run out of ammo (water), just scoop more from the moat. Or ask people by the roadside or in cars — most won’t refuse. I even hopped onto a few vehicles to fight for their water. So exhilarating, haha~


The most powerful attacks come from these super-strong water jets XD


You can’t even escape if you’re just walking down the street, so the best strategy is to gear up for a splash battle too (though at that moment, I was holding a camera, so my attack power was zero...)


Look at this guy having the time of his life — he even auto-focused on me when he saw me taking pictures.


On all three days of the festival, the area around the moat was packed beyond capacity. On the third day, we couldn’t even drive into the city from Chiang Mai Zoo because the roads were completely blocked. We got splashed multiple times and didn’t even have any weapons to fight back with.


The most happening spot during Songkran is just outside Tha Phae Gate, where everyone goes absolutely nuts. Coca-Cola and AirAsia set up massive stages to amp up the atmosphere. Of course, I risked my camera’s life to snap these shots. (And I took two direct hits XD)




On the afternoon of the first day of Songkran each year (i.e., the afternoon of April 13th), there’s a parade that starts from Tha Phae Road outside the city (exact starting point unknown) and makes its way to Phra Singh Temple inside the city. It’s as grand as Taiwan’s Mazu procession, featuring flower floats, traditional dances, and Buddha statues from temples across the region. But unlike Taiwan, people prepare a special yellow fragrant water, which they pour over the temple’s Buddha statue as it enters to pray for good luck, or monks sprinkle water on the crowds to bless everyone.


We watched the parade from inside the city near Tha Phae Gate, but of course, it turned into another fierce battleground, so I could only take a few photos with my phone XD. After the parade, I returned to my friend’s guesthouse. Since the ancient city area isn’t as chaotic as the moat, every time I passed by a house, people would just splash me, so I ended up fighting my way through the whole route. And of course, the bruises on my hands from rock climbing the day before just got worse XD.


Back at the other major battlefield, A Little Bird Guesthouse, things were even wilder because there were more foreigners. Whenever a vehicle passed by, everyone would eye it hungrily — FIGHTING!!!


But I think the biggest threat here is the neighbor kids — they always come looking for a fight.



This kid was fierce when splashing people, but he didn’t last long before getting hit hard in return XD.


We foreigners also got really into the local way of life, splashing each other as blessings — though I think there was a fair bit of mischief involved, haha~

They even splashed unsuspecting passersby, though since I had all my gear on, I only gave them a light splash.


Bucket vs. hose — the ultimate showdown XD






The last few photos were taken when I originally wanted to take pictures for everyone as a souvenir, but instead they just kept battling on both sides and even counted down before starting the fight. The intensity of the Songkran Festival is truly beyond imagination XD

After experiencing the most romantic Loy Krathong Festival in Chiang Mai last November, this April I spent three days in Chiang Mai during the craziest Songkran Festival. I’ve now experienced both of Chiang Mai’s most famous festivals. The excitement of the Songkran Festival is really unimaginable. Even though I fought for three straight days (on the third day I was just getting splashed XD), not a single day did my clothes stay dry. But I think this is Thailand’s most famous and lively festival, just like our New Year. Although this year has already passed and I couldn’t join in, if there’s a chance next year, I definitely must go to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to experience the atmosphere of Songkran.

【SONGKRAN FESTIVAL】
Festival Location: Around the moat of the Old City of Chiang Mai
Festival Dates:: Every year from April 13th to 15th
Suggestions:Accommodation and transportation during the Songkran Festival are very difficult to book, so it’s recommended that those who want to participate book early to avoid missing out.

Xiao Sheng’s Wandering Journeyhttp://rt009211.pixnet.net/blog
Every journey, every trip is about seeking something—even if I’m not entirely sure what that something is—but in the end, what I gain is always more than I imagined. That’s why my wandering journey will continue without end.