By MOOK Attractions House, compiled and reported
The Thai Songkran Festival is the most joyful traditional New Year festival for Thais (Songkran, also known as the Thai New Year due to its pronunciation), during this long holiday period many city residents return to their hometowns to celebrate with family.
The Songkran Festival, locally known as Songkran in Thailand, is equivalent to the Thai Lunar New Year. (Photo/Thai Tourism Authority)
Songkran is a time when all family members gather together to show respect to elders. The younger ones ask their elders to sprinkle water on their palms for blessings. Afterward, through accumulating merit, offering food to monks, building sand stupas, and splashing water on each other, it also helps clean homes, temples, and buildings.
(Photo/MOOK MoCk Editorial Department)
Beyond the festive meaning, the Songkran season is also the hottest time of the year in Thailand, so splashing water also has a "cooling off" effect. As the hottest month of April begins, people pray for good luck in the new year. Playful young people splash water on each other to collect a year’s worth of good fortune. Getting drenched from head to toe doesn't cause anger or embarrassment because water symbolizes blessings, helping everyone stay cool during the hottest season.
(Photo/Thai Tourism Authority)
The Thai Songkran Festival takes place from April 13 to 15, with different celebration styles across Thailand.
Bangkok
On Khao San Road, beloved by backpackers worldwide, during Thai New Year this entire area is filled with young Thais and foreigners splashing water at each other — thrilling and fun.
Chiang Mai
Throughout Chiang Mai’s Old City and surrounding streets, water splashes everywhere, alongside eye-catching parades and trucks packed with people, each holding water guns spraying water at other vehicles and pedestrians.
Ayutthaya
Offering food to alms-seeking monks. Pouring water over the hands of elders to bless them with good health. Giving elephants a >water blessing. According to tradition, bathing Buddha statues and purifying oneself. Wearing traditional attire, enjoying traditional parades, and tasting traditional cuisine.
(Photo/MOOK MoCk Editorial Department)
Pattaya
Starting the day by giving alms to monks and pouring scented water on Buddha statues to pray for a great start to the new year, sprinkling some scented water on the hands of elders to bless them with health, competing in beach sandcastle-building, and enjoying folk games and entertainment.
Phuket
Traditional water pouring on Buddha statues for blessings, building sand dunes, making offerings to monks, as well as bartender competitions, motorcycle parades, various music performances, and local delicacies.
(Photo/Thai Tourism Authority)
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