Thai Festival: Songkran

The Songkran festival is one of the most popular festivals in Thailand. It has attracted many tourists from many countries around the world to come to this very country. The festival is held from April 13th to April 15th. 

The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed. If these days fall on a weekend, the missed days off are taken on the weekdays immediately following. Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season. Until 1888 the Thai New Year was the beginning of the year in Thailand; thereafter 1 April was used until 1940. 1 January is now the beginning of the year. The traditional Thai New Year has been a national holiday since then.

The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water upon others. Thais roam the streets with containers of water or water guns.

Besides the throwing of water, people celebrating Songkran as a Buddhist festival may also go to a Buddhist monastery) to pray and give food to monks. They may also cleanse Buddha images from household shrines as well as Buddha images at monasteries by gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance over them. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year.