The Thai New Year: Songkran on April 13
The most important party and event in Thailand is Songkran, the Thai New Year. The celebration lasts an average of 3 days, from April 13 to April 15. Songkran is celebrated all over Thailand.
Previously, Songkran was mainly dominated by religion. The local temple was visited. Respect was shown to the elders and monks by sprinkling the heads and hands with scented water. Buddha statues were also bathed (cleaned).
Water party
Nowadays, the Thais fight each other on the street with huge water pistols. Revelers drive through the city in pick-ups and trucks. These are filled with large barrels of water. The goal is to drench or spray every passerby.
Tourists
Especially in the north, Chiang Mai, Songkran is celebrated exuberantly and longer than in the rest of the country. The That Phanom festival is for Buddhist pilgrims who come to That Phanom in the North East journey to venerate the most sacred Buddha statues there.
Songkran is also an important tourist event. Thousands of tourists come here every year.
Road fatalities
Notorious are the many traffic accidents during Songkran. Many Thai people travel back to relatives in the province. This puts extra pressure on the roads. In addition, there is a lot of alcohol abuse, most collisions are caused by drunk drivers. Tourists would be wise to avoid Thai roads during this period.
Songkraan is celebrated in Thailand between April 12 and 19, depending on the region the festivities last between three and seven days. The enormous water pistols are mainly operated by Farang, tough boys who want to prove their masculinity in this way. In tourist places, Thais are also encouraged to use it.
In quiet areas, a bucket of water is poured over you, possibly with a wipe of white powder on your face. Very peaceful and quiet. A pleasure to experience in contrast to the violence of the guns for which you are not safe on your motorbike because they aim at your face, so that you can no longer see anything. Or the large ice cubes that are mixed in the water.
Avoid resorts of Pattaya and head to the surrounding villages and enjoy the friendliness and real fun of New Year's Eve. Safe and sound.
Something to put it bluntly is the comment: “The enormous water pistols are mainly operated by Farang, tough boys who want to prove their masculinity in this way.” I rather see most Farang, especially the elderly among us, ducking away from the water, not going out into the street and waiting until this period is over.
As the article writes, an average of 3 days. So not 'between 3 and 7'.
And indeed, it is all kinds of people who use the big guns. Your comment about masculinity makes no sense to me, just like your comment that the Thai are infected by farang.
Where I live the “party” only lasts half a day, the 17th from !200 to 1700. Before noon and after 12 you can just walk around the street without having to hide. Shops are open before and after. Been here for years.