Songkran - the Thai New Year

Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok has dominated Thailand's urban hierarchy as well as its political, commercial and cultural life since the late 18th century. Distinctly modern and Westernised, Bangkok is still a sleepy Thai village with a louder soundtrack of traffic and nightlife.

An article about Bangkok
by Petter Hederstedt

Songkran is the name of the Thai New Year, celebrated between April 13-15 every year. It is the most important, happiest and probably most well known of the Thai holidays. The word Songkran comes from Sanskrit and has an astrological meaning - “a move or change” (move of the sun into the Aries zodiac).

The most obvious ways of celebrating Songkran is the water throwing and chalk smearing you see on the streets for three days. It’s impossible to stay dry since people are storming the streets with water guns, water buckets and water hoses. Drive by’s are also common with 5 people sitting on a pick up truck ready to throw a bucket of ice cold water over you if you get close enough.

Songkran has not always been about soaking each other, it used to be a way of showing respect to each other by gently pouring a small amount of water over each another. But since April is the hottest month of the year, and since the Thai people started to involve foreigners as well, the gently water pouring evolved into regular water fights on the streets. Another story and reason of why water is used is that it’s a way of calling for rain, according to the myth of Nagas. Thai people do however not only throw water on each other to celebrate SongKran, they also visit the Buddhist temples, cleanse their Buddha images, clean their houses and burn stuff they don’t use, and make New Year resolutions.

If you are in Bangkok and want to experience the most intensive Songkran celebrations you should head for Khao San road. Although this is a well known back packer street the foreigners are easy counted among the thousands and thousands of Thais. Khao San road, and the surrounding streets, get invaded by people from all ages (mostly younger though) who with a great smile soaks you with water and smears chalk all over your face. It’s totally crazy and a lot of fun. Buy a water gun, preferably a big one, shoot everyone who shoots at you, refill it in the water stands for 10 baht, and shoot them again. Remember, everything gets wet so pack your cell phone, money, camera and passport in a plastic bag.