Thai New Year or locally known as “Songkran” is just right around the corner. This joyful festival that everybody is looking forward to will take place in Phuket from April 13th to April 15th. Before enjoying yourself with this world-famous celebration, we would like to present a bit of the history and tips for you to get to know beforehand. Let’s check it out!
History
Songkran is derived from a Sanskrit word “saṃkrānti”, literally means “astrological passage of the Sun of one Zodiac sign to another”. Therefore, there are twelve Sonkrans each year, but the true meaning of this Songkran, sometimes called Major Songkran for not confusing with other Songkrans, is when the Sun enters the sign of Aries. The date was originally set by astrological calculations, but it is now fixed on 13 April and the festival has transitioned into 3 days of celebration. The second day of Songkran is officially the National Family Day. Families would wake up early and give alms to the monks, then ideally the rest of the day would be spent sharing quality family time together.
However the celebration typically begins before and end several days after the official holiday. The festival may also be extended if some of the celebrations fall over a weekend. The Songkran Festival is also known as the Thai New year or Thailand Water Festival, originally celebrated as a way for the Thai people to sprinkle water on their family members and elders for good fortune and pay their respects to images of the beloved Buddha. Nowadays, it is obvious that the most prominent image of Songkran festival is the water fights on the roads using buckets containing water, water guns or water hose and soak anyone who passes by.
The water festival is also from the fact that April is the hottest month of the year and it is also school summer holidays. So it is fun and make all sense to refresh yourself, have a good and fun time with friends and families and escape from the unbearable heat.
Where to celebrate Songkran and tips
If you happen to be in Thailand during Songkran festival, prepare yourself and get ready to get soaked and have a blast during this super entertaining and enjoyable celebration. The festivities will be held in every single part of Thailand. You might consider going to check out the major cities such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Khon Kaen, Phuket or Hat Yai to fulfil this experience and enjoy other activities such as religious ceremonies, music festivals, outdoor parties and so on. Especially Chiang Mai that holds the biggest and most recognized Water Festival parade of Thailand including statues from local temples being carried out and paraded through the streets in celebration of this very special time of the year. Participating Songkran Festival is also believed to bring you good luck and prosperity during the whole upcoming year.
For accommodations, the prices seem to be higher than any other times of the year. It is highly recommended to book your room in advance to ensure a place to stay.
If you enjoyed this article, you could also read our article “Dream Holiday in Phuket“