Tips To Enjoy Songkran Thailand – The Country’s Biggest Holiday

Songkran Thailand, also known as the Thai New Year, is celebrated annually from April 13 to 15 and is one of the most anticipated holidays in this country. As the biggest celebration, Songkran marks the traditional Thai New Year by welcoming the new year with friends, family, and lots of water. If you find yourself in Thailand during Songkran, here are some tips to help you fully enjoy this fun and colorful festival.

History of Songkran Thailand

Songkran, pronounced saang-kran in Thai, is derived from the Sanskrit word Sankranti, which means “astrological passage” (“the passage of the sun from one sign of the Zodiac to another”). This name originates from a Hindu spring festival in Ancient India that marked the beginning of the new harvest season. The country will close down to celebrate the holiday and perform the associated rituals.

Songkran is on 13 April every year, but the holiday period extends from 14 to 15 April. Each day of Thai Songkran week has a related color, flower, jewelry stone, food, and other symbolic associations that link the celebrations to their historical importance. Songkran, like most New Year festivals across the world, focuses on cleansing away the old and looking forward to the new.

Songkran activities include temple visits, merit-making, and water fights.

Songkran Celebrations In Thailand

Thailand celebrates Songkran all over the country. The biggest festivities take place in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and other major towns, as well as popular beach resorts like Koh Samui and Pattaya. The Songkran celebrations in Thailand include parades, festivals, beauty pageants, and splashing water on the crowd.

For Thai people living in big cities, Songkran is when they return to their homes and spend quality time with family. Devoted Buddhists will visit local temples to give their offerings. They follow a cleansing rite, in which they splash water on Buddha statues to wash away sins and ward off bad luck for the following year. 

Furthermore, Songkran is also a time for respect and reverence for one’s elders. Younger generations do traditional foot washing and gift-giving for grandparents and parents as a sign of respect for those who set the path for their future achievement.

Showing respect during Songkran

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Tips to Have Fun While Celebrating Songkran Thailand

The traditional Thai New Year celebration has changed over time to become a well-known mass water fight. So, here are some tips on what to prepare for playful water fights and merrymaking of the Songkran festival in Thailand.

Join The Locals

You can participate in traditional water fights with local communities. Throwing buckets of water at each other as a sign of cleaning and renewal is one of these enjoyable activities. Prepare for surprising “attacks” as you roam the streets during Songkran.

Get The “Weapon” For Water Fights

The best Songkran participants are those with a large water cannon with minimal refill needs. You can get a sense of the size by recalling the size of the Super Soakers you had when you were 12 years old. The Central World shopping center and large supermarkets like Big C are a couple of places to look.

Protect Your Personal Belongings

To keep your valuables dry during water fights, bring a small backpack or bag to protect your wallet, phone, and other valuables from getting soaked.

Bring Extra Clothes

Pack a swimsuit and change of clothes because getting drenched is inevitable during Songkran. While water guns, super soakers, and buckets are the main tools of choice, roving packs will also use anything they can find to douse others—including hoses hooked up to hydrants!

You will want to wear clothes you don’t mind getting ruined by all the water. A hat is also a good idea to shield your face and head from sneak attacks from above using water balloons. 

After the water fights are over, you may dry off and change into clean clothes for your next activity by packing extra clothing and a towel in a waterproof bag.

Wear Protective Eyewear

Protective eyewear (e.g., sunglasses and goggles) can shield your eyes from water and other objects that may be thrown during water fights.

Choose Safe Water Sources

To prevent the transmission of disease, water fights should be conducted only in places designated for this purpose.

Enjoy the festival with clean water

Be Careful On The Roads

During the celebration, the roadways can become extremely crowded, and accidents are frequent. Thus, you should take caution when strolling on the roads and refrain from using motor vehicles or motorbikes. To get around safely, take advantage of Bangkok’s world-class public transportation system by riding the air-conditioned BTS Skytrain and MRT Metro systems.

Keep Hydrated

Because the festival will likely be held in blistering heat, it is necessary to keep yourself hydrated. To prevent dehydration, you should always have a water bottle in your bag.

Learn and Respect Local Culture

You should respect local traditions and customs when attending the celebration. Don’t splash police officers, the elderly, or monks with water, as they may need to navigate the streets during Songkran without taking part in the water fight.

Experience Other activities

During festivals, you can honor Buddhist traditions by offering food or clothing at temples. Enjoy traditional Thai music and dance performances in towns like Chiang Mai or Bangkok.

Book Early

It is crucial to keep in mind that Songkran in Thailand is an extremely busy period for travel. Expect prices to rise significantly, and don’t hesitate to book your airplane tickets and accommodations in advance as they are likely to sell out quickly.

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Join Songkran Thailand And Have The Best Time

Songkran festival is a major celebration in Thailand, no matter where you are. It’s the perfect opportunity to spend time with your loved ones, enjoy various activities and events, and create unforgettable memories. 

So do not hesitate to embark on an unforgettable journey to Thailand with our personalized tours designed to cater to your unique interests and requirements. Our team of expert travel designers is dedicated to providing you with exceptional guidance and suggestions to make your trip planning as seamless as possible. Let Asia Pioneer Travel help you Craft The Perfect Vacation that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.