To celebrate the traditional New Year, Thailand’s crazy Songkran water festival is held every April all over the country.
If you're traveling to Thailand between the 13th and 15th of April, chances are you’ll wind up being soaked from head to toe at some point. You’ve arrived during Songkran festival, one of Thailand's most famous holidays Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which when the New Year begins.
The name Songkran derives from the Sanskrit word meaning 'to move or pass', and it began as a Buddhist tradition that involved pouring holy scented water over Buddhist Monks for spiritual cleansing. Thai families would then collect the blessed water to pour over their loved ones — an act said to evoke good health and fortune for the New Year.
Songkran is celebrated from the 13th of April every year and marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year. As with many historical festivals, the significance has shifted from spirituality to one of pure enjoyment. Today, people of all ages will have water guns splashing with water and smiles. |
