The Thai New Year, Songkran, is a celebration of unprecedented proportions and lasts for three days: April 13, 14 and 15. The images of water throwing and water fights are all over the world.
Songkran is originally a religious festival that is celebrated in the family circle. During the party, the children thank their parents and grandparents for everything they mean to them. Young people sprinkle their parents' hands as a sign of respect. Buddha statues are also sprinkled with water and cleaned.
Water party
Songkran is mainly all about water. According to the legends, water is important for the harvest. According to the same legends, the nagas (mythological serpents) brought rain by spitting water from the sea. The more water they spat, the more rain was to be expected and therefore good for the harvest. Songkran literally means 'passage' and refers to the position of the sun within the solar system.
The first day of Songkran is all about saying goodbye to the old year. The second day is all about preparations for the new year and the third day is the start of the new year.
To celebrate the water festival, buckets of water are thrown at each other in the streets. If you find it annoying to walk on a wet suit, it is better to stay indoors those days. Incidentally, throwing water does not take three days everywhere, in Hua Hin there is only half a day of water throwing.
Tourists
Tourists, especially backpackers, love the Songkran Water Festival. In Bangkok, the biggest festivities can be found around Silom, at Central World and at Khao San Road. You can put buckets and water guns everywhere, but also plastic covers to protect valuables. Put it on your bucket list because you have to experience it once!
The party also has a negative side. Many people die in traffic, mainly due to alcohol consumption and a lot of water is also wasted.