Songkran Festival

Water fight on the streets.

Elephants joining in.

Date celebration occurs: 13th April and ends on the 15th April

Offering to the monks

Out of the, many interesting and fun festivals and celebrations in Thailand the Songkran is the most popular. It is not only known and celebrated in Thailand but also in Burma, Cambodia and Laos. In Thai language Songkran means ‘entry of the sun into any sign of the Zodiac’. It is the Thai traditional New Year when the Thai people can enjoy their holidays to the full with no work interference. The Songkran Festival is similar and a bit like April Fools Day. The celebration begins with and offering to the Monks while wearing their new festive clothing. While the monks celebrate their feast, music sometimes is played to celebrate the occasion. After this begins the well-known "water-throwing feast", the locals bathe and dip the images of Buddha in water as a sign of purification. Young people ‘bathe’ the elders by pouring scented water into the palms of the old people. Another tradition that is carried out during the Songkran festival is the religious service held in memory of the dead. At this service monks bless and lead the prayers upon the ashes. The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. People spray and soak each other with water guns, hoses and water bottles. It is a fun couple of days where no one can stay dry. Everyone enjoys the big national water fight.