It’s almost that time of the year when locals in Thailand prepare for one of the biggest and most important annual festivals in the country. From energetic water fights and fun parties to temple visits and street parades, this annual event is an unforgettable experience that you won’t want to miss out on.
Songkran, which has been celebrated for centuries, will kick off in Thailand from April 13 to 15, 2025, offering a unique mix of tradition, fun, and water-filled festivities on the streets of Bangkok and beyond. This three-day festival marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year and is a major draw for tourists. While some regions may extend the celebrations, the main events typically occur during these three days.
But this iconic festival that blends ancient customs with modern-day fun is not just about playful water battles—it’s a deeply spiritual holiday with a rich history. It is believed to have originated as a Hindu spring festival associated with the start of the harvest season in India. Rooted in Buddhist and Hindu traditions and originating from the Sanskrit word saṃkrānti, meaning “astrological passage” or “to step into”, Songkran means new beginnings and purification.
In the same way New Year’s celebrations across Africa and the Black diaspora often center around renewal, family gatherings, and spirituality, this festival symbolizes new beginnings, purification, and gratitude. It is also a time for paying respect to elders, giving alms to monks, and enjoying traditional Thai food and music.
Today, Songkran is a vibrant celebration of tradition, family, and community, and its significance has now earned the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognition. On December 6, 2023, UNESCO included Songkran in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
How is Songkran Celebrated in Thailand?
Water plays a major role in the festival, as people splash water on each other to wash away the past year’s sins and misfortunes so they can get ready for the next one and usher in fresh beginnings.
Throughout the country, streets are filled with the sounds of laughter as locals and visitors engage in playful water fights, wielding buckets, water guns, and hoses to drench one another in a joyous celebration of unity and renewal.
Food also holds a special meaning during Songkran. Women traditionally prepare the recipes that have been handed down through generations and share these with younger relatives to ensure the traditions are continued.
The first day of the festival is Maha Songkran or the grand Songkran. It is traditionally marked with spring cleaning and a water-pouring ceremony. The people clean their homes, temples, or other places to sweep away any sadness and bad luck from the previous year.
An important ritual is Song Nam Phra. During this, scented water is poured onto sacred Buddha images in temples. This ritual not only pays homage to Buddhist teachings, it symbolizes purification – or the washing away of the previous year to welcome the New Year. Water may also be placed before the image in bowls with fragrant flowers.
The second day is Wan Nao, or the “middle day,” and it is for celebrating the family. Young people show appreciation and respect for senior citizens and older family members through the traditional ritual of Rod Nam Dam Hua. In this heartfelt ceremony, they pour scented water over their hands and feet in return for blessings and floral garlands, and offerings are made to monks and temples. Another tradition is to release caged birds or fish into waterways to bring good luck.
Photo source: Freepik
The third day of the festival, April 15, is New Year’s Day, also known as Wan Payawan. The traditional way to start the day is with a visit to the local temple. At these temples, people present clothing and food to the monks, who pray for them. Floral garlands, called Phuang Malai, are traditionally worn at Songkran. They are usually made of three fragrant flowers: jasmine or dok mali, white champaca or dok champhi, and roses.
Thais celebrate by partaking in various traditions, notably beginning their day with visits to sacred temples. Many local Buddhists dedicate their mornings to paying respects at these revered sites, with some even ambitiously aiming to visit nine major temples in one day. At these temples, worshippers offer food and pour water into the hands of temple monks, seeking blessings for the new year. In Bangkok, renowned temples such as Wat Pho, Wat Arun, Wat Boworn, and Wat Benchamabophit attract large crowds of devout followers, a reflection of the deeply ingrained religious and cultural significance of Songkran in Thai society.
Modern Songkran Activities
Thai water festivals:
Imagine a fun, friendly water fight all across the country! Thailand is well-known for its Thai water festivals, the modern way of celebrating Songkran, and a must-do if you’re traveling there during this period. Everyone will collect water in their buckets, hoses, and water pistols, then hit the streets for full-blown water fights!
The main streets of the big cities such as Bangkok and Phuket are where you can find all of the action happening, filled with enthusiastic locals and tourists playfully splashing each other.
In modern times, dousing others with water may involve more than simply cups or buckets. Water pistol fights take place among friends and family or even strangers, and people fill water balloons to pelt one another. People are attracted to the exuberant water fights in the streets of towns and cities.
Songkran Music Festival:
Another popular way to celebrate Songkran in Thailand, as well as worldwide, is with a Songkran music festival. An extension of the well-known water fights, some of the famous streets in Thailand will turn into a vibrant party venue, filled with loud music, water cannons, and foam machines.
The music festivals last until late at night, so come well-rested as you party all night long, showing off your best dance moves and swaying to the music! These parties also often feature famous DJs and Thai singers performing on stage, so you know you’re in for a fun time.
Celebrate Songkran with elephants:
Escape the city and get up close to nature as you celebrate Songkran with elephants instead. Elephants are the national animals of Thailand, and on Songkran Day, many of the elephant sanctuaries and retirement parks in the country open up for visitors to celebrate with these gentle giants.
The elephants will use their trunks to spray water on visitors, adding more splashing fun to Songkran celebrations. You can also take this opportunity to bathe and feed these majestic creatures. Meanwhile, in the cities, these elephants are decorated and painted with different colors, and they are paraded down the main streets to join in the celebrations.
They are also drawn to events such as water fights with elephants. These elephant events have emerged to promote tourism. The animals are painted with flowers and other designs and encouraged to spray water at people nearby. It’s worth noting that while some tourist events may feature decorated elephants spraying water, it’s important to choose reputable sanctuaries that prioritize the well-being of these animals.
Photo Source: JJ Harrison via Wikimedia Commons
Where to Celebrate Songkran
Tourist destinations most popular for Songkran include Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Phuket, and Koh Samui. At these destinations where fun meets culture, you’re sure to witness enthusiastic festival-goers engaging in close combat with water guns, buckets, hoses, and anything else that holds water for the full 72 hours.
There will be music banging from loudspeakers and stages set up everywhere as people wander around with high-pressure water guns over their shoulders, ready to drench anyone they bump into. Some hotels even offer pool parties.
Packing Essentials You’ll Need to Celebrate Songkran
If you’re in Thailand during Songkran, be prepared to get wet. You will need the following items for a fun experience.
Dry bag: At this time, we’d like to observe a moment of silence for the fallen cell phones who have been casualties of Songkran.
Waterproof pouches:
Street vendors sell these before the event. The pouches are ideal for keeping your phone safe and dry.
Waterproof footwear:
If you don’t want your expensive designer shoes getting ruined, ensure you’ve got footwear that can be waterlogged for the better part of the festival days.
Eye protection:
This will save your eyes from all the water that will be flying all over the place.
Water weapon:
There are all sorts of water guns for sale, and most places will allow you to fill them up if you purchase from them.
