Songkran will last three weeks this year and starts on April 1
Songkran water festival in Chiang Mai
This year, Thailand will celebrate the Songkran festival, known for its exuberant water fights, nationwide over a three-week period starting April 1.
The government hopes the planned activities, designed to bring fun and joy, will help promote Thailand's "soft power" while boosting tourism and boosting the economy, said government spokesman Chai Wacharonke .
The decision to expand the festival comes after the recent recognition of Songkran as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. This recognition underlines the importance and cultural value of the festival, which is deeply rooted in Thai tradition.
According to Chai, the Ministry of Culture will take the lead in organizing the festivities, in collaboration with various agencies from both the public and private sectors. The activities will take place in all 50 districts of Bangkok and the remaining 76 provinces of Thailand, making it a national celebration open to everyone, locals and tourists alike. This annual event promises to be a unique and unforgettable experience that celebrates Thailand's rich culture and traditions.
Source: Thai Public Broadcasting Service
I had always hoped with many people that they would shorten that childish stuff. Many, like me, will avoid Thailand for a few weeks and take the opportunity to travel to a neighboring country. I thought 3 days was more than enough. Everyone I know is sick of it after 2 days. But apparently all reasons are good to drink oneself to death.
You don't have to drink, you don't even have to go outside. Just let others have fun. I don't like it either, so I don't participate in it, but to be an old whiner here is going too far.
I don't go outside during the three-day Songkran period because you run the risk of being soaked on every street corner. I find all this a restriction of my freedom.
It's okay for me that others are having fun, but I think pouring a bucket of water over the heads of others without asking is absolutely inappropriate. And all this under the name of 'Thai culture'? Don't make me laugh. Most drunk foreigners don't even know the meaning of Songkran.
I think it is inappropriate that if you write an opinion here you are like old whiner is labeled. Your comment goes a bit too far, not Fred's.
I'm not even shocked by 'old whine', but I am shocked by “16 people like this.”
I think the water throwing part of Songkran could be reduced to 1 day.
What do you want Eric. There are people from all walks of life on our blog.
Most who respond here have an aversion to this throwing of water and the associated drinking. Others like all this. Not only Songkran but also many other festivities are an excellent reason to consume alcohol excessively. This reminds me of that 'lower social class...'.
This is no longer Songkran sensu stricto but a hedonistic orgy. There is no longer any question of culture and that was not UNESCO's intention. Of course, it is only about raising foreign exchange. You can, for example, buy a football team in England with that. That is not possible with the Baht. But the income could be disappointing because 21 days of water throwing, drinking and street dancing will not attract well-to-do tourists.
Dear Roy,
Our blog is known for allowing everyone to express their opinion, as long as you remain polite and polite.
I find it sad that you personally accuse others of being an 'old whiner' because they have a certain point of view. Not very clean! Shouldn't you have kept that comment to yourself? If you don't like comments on a topic, you should not respond.
I can only agree with what Fred says above. Hopefully I'm not an old whiner now either. For me, the whole Songkran thing should be over as quickly as possible. Now that this circus lasts three weeks, this is just misery for those who don't like it.
Can we please share our own point of view with fellow bloggers without being labeled as old whiners?
Songkran is one of the festivals in Thailand that they can abolish for all I care. The misery that accompanies it is in stark contrast to the pleasure that some get from it. The drinking parties, the many deaths on the road, throwing each other soaking wet without asking at the most impossible moments, what does this have to do with culture?
I have absolutely nothing against children playing with each other with a water pistol. But if, just before I want to enter a shopping center, I get a bucket of ice-cold water on my head, no, that is an absolute shame. This goes too far for me. And then we won't shut up if you get a load of white powder all over you. This is so nice, isn't it 🙁
I don't think whining is the right word, it's actually more of a surprise as to why.
3 or 4 days of fun is OK for those who like it, but to extend this after 3 weeks, in the hope that you will appeal to more tourists, is as ridiculous as it is absurd.
Who is going to book extra now that this spectacle has been delivered for 3 weeks?
I think that many people will avoid Thailand at this time, if you just think of the many traffic accidents involving alcohol that have previously occurred.
I will have to reconsider my travel plans as I don't like Songkran. I'll stay away.
Dear Fred,
If I could, I would also like to escape the Songkran period. Now I consciously stay at home for those three days. I don't participate in throwing water and walking around all day feeling tired.
Now that I read here that this will be extended to 3 weeks, this does not make me happy at all. We have one consolation, fortunately the Thai cannot celebrate 1 weeks in a row. Most are only at home during the real 3-day Songkran.
Those 3 weeks are only good to attract the crowd of tourists. Have a nice drink and be a pig. That's all there is to it. This no longer has anything to do with cultural heritage.
Anyway, before I start whining, I will avoid busy places. And hope that those 3 silly weeks are over as quickly as possible.
The problem is that one person cannot last three weeks, but an entire population group? One stops and the other continues and this is how one can redeem themselves...
Just the thought. I think this is worse than the Carnival in Rio. In Brazil you have parties within closed groups, occasionally on the street and in the Sambodrome. But if you just go into town, you won't notice much of it.
Songkran is a completely different case. Indeed, we had to be careful and still had to stay dry for three days. But now three weeks? What an idiotic thing. Should I expect to have a bucket of ice-cold water thrown over my body at any time for three weeks?
unbelievable.
April 1st. Yes Yes.
There's something about that date.
Haha
Yes, I expected such a comment, but I'm afraid not. It's all over the Thai media and I don't think they do April Fools jokes in Thailand. If it is, then it's a good joke, because even my girlfriend thinks it's serious.
It is serious, but the Thais also do April Fools jokes.
3 weeks seems like a long time to me. I don't like the party, but many people enjoy it, but 3 days seems long enough to me. Nowadays everything has to be milked financially. How many people will die in traffic if they "drink" for 3 weeks? In 2023, 11 people died in traffic from April 17 to 469.
Three weeks of Songkran is indeed a very long time and many Thais will not be able to cover that well financially.
On the other hand, Songkran is a Thai folk festival and foreigners should accept and respect these types of culturally ingrained celebrations.
After all, these are known data that everyone knows and knows in advance.
The unsafe traffic situations during those types of parties are something where the government must take measures and encourage partygoers to drive safely - It is almost impossible - so avoiding that possible danger as much as possible is a good solution.
The choice to leave Thailand (temporarily) is also a free choice.
I personally have little or no trouble with Thai customs and I respect the customs of the country.
So wish all readers a pleasant and safe Songkran event.
Oh Guy, all beautiful words.
We have to do this and we have to do that... You know, I have a large Thai family and hardly anyone participates in this, what you call, folk festival anymore.
My parents-in-law have told me many times that Songkran is only good because one has a few days off, but otherwise this has nothing to do with the original character. The grandchildren still play a bit with a water pistol, but everyone else stays at home here.
In the tourist areas this is still only about money, drinking and being a pig. That's all there is to it. Many people have an aversion to this hyped-up hassle and are happy when it is over. My Thai wife especially.
Three weeks be careful that you don't get drenched at every turn by a few drunken idiots.
I thought three days was more than enough, now they make it three weeks. Do people really think that this will attract a lot more tourists? There are many people who avoid Thailand precisely because they don't like the Songkran stuff. It is only good for those who like to drink and stir things up.
No, I don't think this is a good idea.
The soup is undoubtedly not eaten as hot as it is served, or water is certainly not thrown or drunkenly driven on the road for three weeks, and working Thais cannot take a three-week holiday. The poorer and/or older Thais cannot financially afford three weeks of Songkran old style, if only because the expenses on food and drinks are fully paid for by the richer relatives from Bangkok. And they returned to work after a week.
I understand the water spectacle is just 3 to 7 days.
But the surrounding parties for 3 weeks?
They won't see me there during Songkran. This year it will be Vietnam or the Philippines.
I wouldn't worry about three weeks of partying on the periphery. They don't have the money for that! You already see in small communities that people go to work on the third day and that there are only some children left with a water pistol... In Nongkhai city, the water supply was once turned off at 17 p.m. during Songkran and the city center was without until the next morning …Then the party is over…
And that it attracts tourists? Yes, one or two days. Then they have had enough and leave things behind. No, another fantastic government plan!
Idea from Thaksin's daughter………………who gave the only reason that it brings in more tourists and therefore more money. And that reasoning is also incorrect.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/2697986
Water throwing will be limited in Bangkok until April 13-15, according to this article.
I assume that this will also be the case elsewhere in Thailand.
I'm a little surprised at the negative comments. Very similar to the comments of Dutch people who have something against carnival. As a southerner, I also like all those drinking, cheeseheads, etc., but I don't let that spoil my enjoyment. Here I enjoy Songkran and don't look at the other person.
Getting wet a problem? At these temperatures?
I'm just going to enjoy it again with my Thai love.
oooohhhhhh, Just booked for April 2 to April 18. And if there's one thing I hate, it's water. I thought I would just stay at the hotel for the 14th and then it wouldn't be too bad.
Last year I went to Ko San Road to exchange money and the taxi dropped me off. There were so many people that you could no longer walk and everything was closed except the taps. I could no longer see where I was because of the crowds. It took me 7 hours to cover the 3 km. But my traveling companions liked my story and went to the ko san that next day. They were in Thailand for the first time. And loved it. That's really culture, they thought when they came back very wet. I had a nice stay at the hotel.
It's not that time yet.
In Pattaya, among other places, no significant rain has fallen since mid-November. If it remains very dry/warm in March, another ministry will ask that water be used sparingly.
The question remains of course whether (drunk) people listen to this.
I don't believe it…..celebrating Songkran for 3 weeks. I think Loi Krathong is the most important 'holiday' in Thailand and it has been celebrated politely/civilized for centuries. If it falls on a weekend, they attach a Friday before or a Monday after.
The road is very dangerous for tourists, so this year I took into account not to spend my month's holiday in ChiangMai, Udon and Nongh Kai/Bueng Kan until April 23rd.
Others who like this...have fun and take care
Loy Krathong is an evening event and not a holiday. Never a day off and never compensated.
What is civilized? 100 years ago during Songkraan, the girls chased the monks trying to pull off their robes. As it should be in a Thai culture, Tino cannot find his writings about this at the moment.
Songkraan used to be celebrated as 'wildly' as it is now. That's right here https://www.thailandblog.nl/boeddhisme/teloorgang-dorpsboeddhisme/
A monk reminisces about Songkran in Isan circa 1925:
It did not matter whether the monks or the novices threw water on the women first or whether the women took the initiative. Everything was allowed after the start. The monks' robes and belongings in their kutis were soaking wet. The women ran after the monks when they retreated. Sometimes they only got hold of their robes.
If they seized a monk, he could be tied to a pole of his kuti. During their hunt, the women sometimes lost their clothes. The monks were always the losers in this game or they gave up because the women outnumbered them. The women played the game to win.
When the game was over, someone would take the women with gifts of flowers and incense sticks to ask the monks for forgiveness. It's always been that way.
Found it! Quote: “In the Lao tradition (in the northeast), monks and elders were splashed with water until they were soaked. The authorities in Bangkok were shocked that monks were treated with such contempt. But for the Laotians, Songkran was a day for people to break the rules. Everyday moral and social constraints fell aside as young and old enjoyed themselves to their heart's content. The festival was a time of joy and indulgence. Not only did women throw water at the young men of the village, they also came with water to the huts of young monks and threw it on them too. (…)
One monk remembers: 'It did not matter whether the monks (and novices) threw water to the lay women first or whether the women initiated it. Once it started, there was no stopping it. The monks' robes and their paraphernalia in the kutis were all soaked. The women would chase the monk if he retreated. Sometimes they only caught his robes. If they caught a monk, he could be tied to a post in the hut. During this hunt the women's clothes sometimes fell off. The monks always lost the game, or surrendered because they were outnumbered by the women. The lay women really played to win.”
From: “Forest Recollections: wandering monks in 20th century Thailand” pages 27-28.
I think it's fun for 1 or 2 days, except when there are those jokers who also throw you wet in the evening. When it comes to drinking a lot, they also go all out here during carnival.
Fortunately, not so many accidents and fatalities here..
I think the fact that it starts on April 1 is a joke and it's just 3 days
I also experienced it for the first time last year, here they talk about 3,4 days, it was a full week. Never again for me, and I'm not a curmudgeon, I can dance all night and have fun. Although I say that on a warm afternoon it is nice to be dressed or undressed accordingly. But if you want to go to a restaurant during the evening and get dressed and you come out of your hotel, you get a bucket poured over you, or after a long morning walk and you come back with the 10Bath bus, with everything in your pocket and you want to eat, with the water hose in full flow, nevermind. What I find most ridiculous are those adult, obese foreigners with their water pistols, and then I wonder “Thai culture”? If a Thai sprinkles me with water and wishes happy Sonkran, I offer my head and say For you to, Kob koen krab! And enjoy their culture! As far as digestion is concerned, I think it will be a disaster for many, not to mention the damage and the work, many businesses even remain closed!
What a great idea, at least the water cannons can be used more days.
You also have more time to book to experience this spectacle.
One of the best solutions and realization of thoughts that the government could come up with. I'm looking forward to it already.