Celebrate Songkran like the locals do! 💦
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
It's almost that time of the year where locals in Thailand prepare for one of their most iconic celebrations of the year - the Songkran Water Festival! From epic water fights and lively parties, to temple visits and street parades, this annual event is a one-of-a-kind experience that you won't want to miss out on.
If you're planning to visit Thailand this April for a summer vacation or simply for a short weekend getaway, it'll be the perfect opportunity for you to participate in this Thai festival. The celebrations differ from city to city, so depending on where you're heading, you can expect either modern festivals or traditional activities, or a fun mix of both! Get your water pistols ready and keep reading to discover the different ways you can celebrate Songkran this year. 🔫
But first - what is Songkran?
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
The Songkran Water Festival is held annually by the locals in celebration of the Thai New Year. The national holiday of Songkran is officially on the 13th of April each year, but the celebrations last for 3 days from April 13 to 15, happening all across Thailand. Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya are popular destinations for Songkran celebrations.
This vibrant event brings locals and tourists together to splash each other with water and pay respects to their elders, but most importantly, to usher in the new year with joy and enthusiasm. In fact, water plays a major role in the festival and symbolically, it is meant to wash away the previous year to get ready for the next one.
Traditional Songkran activities
1. Visit a Buddhist temple
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
Songkran is essentially a Buddhist festival and is traditionally celebrated by visiting a temple on the morning of Songkran Day itself. Most people would dedicate their morning to experiencing this lovely Thai tradition, before heading to the streets for a fun, cooling splash at noon.
Some temples organize a ceremony in which you can pour water on the hands of the temple monks and receive blessings from them. Buddhists may also give offerings to the temple monks.
2. Bathe images of Buddha
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
Aside from making offerings to the monks, Buddhists would show reverence to Buddha by 'bathing' images and statues of the religious teacher. This traditional ritual is called Song Nam Phra, where scented water is poured or sprinkled over Buddha to wash away any bad luck in preparation for the new year.
The ritual can also be done outside of temples, at various markets, and in shopping malls. The celebration is continued by parading major Buddha statues and images along the streets, taken from local museums and temples so that people can pour water on them.
3. Spring clean & pay respect to elders
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
To get ready for the new year, Thais will also celebrate the first day of the water festival by spring-cleaning their houses, schools, offices, and other public spaces. This is done to get rid of all negativity and bad luck from the previous year, allowing them to start the new year with a clean slate.
Most Thais will also head home to their villages during this time to carry out the ritual of Rod Nam Dam Hua, the pouring or sprinkling of scented water onto the palms and feet of their elders. The young would traditionally do this in respect of their parents and grandparents.
Modern Songkran activities
1. Thai water festivals
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
Imagine a fun, friendly water fight all across the country! Thailand is well-known for its Thai water festivals, the modern way of celebrating Songkran and a must-do if you're traveling there during this period. Everyone will collect water in their buckets, hoses and water pistols, then hit the streets for full-blown water fights!
The main streets of the big cities such as Bangkok and Phuket are where you can find all of the action happening, filled with enthusiastic locals and tourists playfully splashing each other. April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand, and the soaring temperature definitely makes a good excuse to be involved in this playful (and cooling) water war!
2. Songkran music festivals
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
Another popular way to celebrate Songkran in Thailand, as well as worldwide, is with a Songkran music festival. An extension of the well-known water fights, some of the famous streets in Thailand will turn into a vibrant party venue, filled with loud music, water cannons, and foam machines.
The music festivals last until late at night, so come well-rested as you party all night long, showing off your best dance moves and swaying to the music! These parties also often feature famous DJs and Thai singers performing on stage, so you know you're in for a real fun time.
3. Celebrate with elephants
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Escape the city and get up close with nature as you celebrate Songkran with elephants instead. Elephants are the national animals of Thailand, and on Songkran day, many of the elephant sanctuaries and retirement parks in the country open up for visitors to celebrate with these gentle giants.
The elephants will use their trunks to spray water on visitors, adding more splashing fun to Songkran celebrations. You can also take this opportunity to bathe and feed these majestic creatures. Meanwhile, in the cities, these elephants are decorated and painted with different colors, then paraded down the main streets to join in the celebrations.
Best places to celebrate Songkran in Thailand
1. Chiang Mai
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Chiang Mai is said to be the best place to celebrate Songkran in Thailand, where celebrations are in full swing across the whole city and last up to a whole week. The festivities are a fun balance between traditional and modern, kicking off with a procession around the city, and then you can expect cultural performances and rituals, street food and music, as well as lively water fighting zones.
These are some of the locations to celebrate Songkran in Chiang Mai:
- Thapae Gate
- Chiang Mai Gate
- Ping River
2. Bangkok
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand Facebook
You can expect nothing less than lively, vibrant celebrations in Bangkok, the capital city of Thailand. Enjoy various traditional and cultural activities such as sand pagoda building competitions, floral float parades, boat races, and more! Meanwhile, on the main city streets, you can expect large crowds of locals and tourists gathering to splash water at each other, as well as live performances, beauty pageants, food fairs, and even hotel pool parties.
These are some of the locations to celebrate Songkran in Bangkok:
- Khao San Road
- Silom
- Phra Pradaeng
3. Phuket
Photo Credit: Mike Swigunski
Take the celebrations up a notch at the lively Phuket, where Songkran feels like a city-wide party. The water fights begin on the streets of Phuket's old town early in the morning, lasting up until nighttime as the celebrations end in a full-scale water war zone across the city, on its famous streets and beaches.
- Patong Beach
- Bangla Road
- Wat Pho
4. Pattaya
Photo credit: Ryutaro Uozumi
Songkran is best celebrated near bodies of water, so you can expect Pattaya and its beautiful beaches to host various celebrations during this time. In fact, Songkran is a week-long festivity in this seaside city, where you can expect full-blown water fights, foam parties, and sand sculpture competitions. The main celebration here falls on the 19th of April, a traditional event known as Wan Lai, in which parades, beauty pageants, and cultural shows take place.
- Beach Road
- Walking Street
Thailand Local Traffic Guide during Songkran (refer to: Penghu Local Traffic Guide)
- Phuket car rental: 30% OFF, starting at USD 29.94
- Bangkok car rental: 30% OFF, starting at USD 30.76
- Instant confirmation, free cancellation (limited time only)
