One of the most significant holidays in the nation is Songkran, also known as Thai New Year. Although it is more commonly referred to as “the water party” these days because everyone brings their families and friends out to the street to engage in a pitched water fight where the main goals are to get wet, refresh, purify themselves, and most importantly, have fun. The phrase “Songkran” means “to pass by” or “to approach” in Sanskrit, and it is one of the most cherished celebrations in Thailand.
Every year, from April 13 to 15, Thailand celebrates the Songkran Festival. Thais take part in festivities at home, in temples, and on the country’s streets.
Chiang Mai Welcomes the Start of Songkran Festival
With the goal of blessing and purifying to begin the year free of evil spirits, only Buddha figurines and older people were traditionally immersed during this Buddhist festival. However, through time, it has also evolved into a celebration in which everyone is doused with water. The Songkran is a nationwide water fight that marks the beginning of the rainy season.
The most significant component of Songkran is water. The celebration now includes a lot of water throwing. Be prepared to get wet if you visit Thailand during this time! People are running about spraying anybody in their path with water from water pistols and throwing water.
Another significant component of the celebration is honoring family members, as many Thais visit their ancestral homes to spend time with elderly relatives. Buddhists also go to temples during Songkran, where as a symbol of respect, water scented with flowers is thrown over Buddha statues and over the hands of Buddhist monks.
Songkran is a Buddhist ritual that lasts for three days (from April 13 to 15), marking the end of the old year and the start of the new. Water plays a central role in the celebration as a symbol of purification, and neither monks nor police officers are exempt.
On the first day of the festival, in addition to spending the day with family and friends and dousing everyone with water, there are also religious activities like processions and visits to temples, where food, offerings, and flowers are given to the monks and Buddha statues. Water is then poured on their heads with flower petals in an effort to ward off evil spirits and purify the soul in preparation for the new year.
The second day is set aside for the family; as a symbol of respect, the kids visit their parents to beg for their blessing with water. Understanding their culture can help you to comprehend how different the position of the parents is. For instance, the sons and daughters labor to pay for their parents’ retirement because there isn’t any space for an old people’s home or anything similar.
Their new year, which is governed by the Buddhist calendar and begins on the third day, begins in April 543 BC because that was the year Lord Buddha passed away.
In December, UNESCO will examine Songkran as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The Bangkok Songkran Splendours Festival, which takes place from April 13 to 15, is generally how the Thai capital of Bangkok celebrates Songkran. However, festivities may differ from year to year. One of Thailand’s most significant Buddhist temples, Wat Pho, hosts the ceremonial inauguration ceremony and is home to the magnificent gold-plated reclining Buddha.
Khao San Road, one of the most well-known backpacker streets in the world, hosts a variety of other festivals. Water tossing, ritual bathing of Buddha statues, processions, and performances are all part of the event. During the festivities, a delectable selection of regional cuisine is consumed.
Although Songkran is a very significant celebration for Thais, it is also quite well-liked by tourists, and many of them plan their vacations expressly around this unusual occasion.
