How is songkran celebrated in thailand

The custom of water splashing seems to have evolved from the tradition of people dipping their fingers into the bowls of fragrant water used for washing the hands of elders and Buddha statues and sprinkling them on others as a show of respect. Over time, the gentle water blessings gradually became mass water fights where everyone grabs a water gun or bucket to spray and splash all around.

Songkran is celebrated across the country, but each place will hold activities on different days or for a different number of days. In Bangkok , Songkran festivities centre around Silom Rd, with thousands of people soaking up the atmosphere and likely getting drenched in the process.

Kids are welcome everywhere during Songkran and often love the chance to go a little wild in public. Meanwhile, stages at different old city gates, hotels and shopping centres host live music and more. Smaller northern towns, including Lamphun , Mae Hong Son and Phayao host mellower celebrations while Baeng Saen Beach in Chonburi province is known for its Wan Lai Festival, which holds an impressive sand pagoda competition on the beach.

For all its craziness, Songkran is surprisingly safe. People are out to unwind and enjoy themselves, not stir up trouble, but there are several things to keep in mind throughout the festival. Anyone and everyone can and will get involved in the celebrations. Happy water throwing! Book hostels in Thailand. You must be logged in to post a comment. What is Songkran? When is Songkran Festival?

How is Songkran celebrated in Thailand? What happens on the first day of the festival? What is Wan Nao? Traditional celebrations of Songkran take place in this ancient city in the wee hours of the morning. Where people pay alms to the monks, followed by releasing birds and fish in their natural environment. Festive activities also take place in Pattaya with most of the activities start in the evening and continue until late at night.

Late night parties, water throwing and charming competitions like Miss Songkran take place. Songkran is the largest festival of Thailand, attracts a huge number of tourists so it is advisable to plan your trip accordingly and book activities and hotels well before time. Vespa Adventures. Children, adults and the elderly dance together on the pavements; truckloads of teenagers, pumping heavy bass, maraud the streets; and the ever present street dogs take refuge wherever they can.

The thoroughfares are lined with stalls selling water guns of all shapes and sizes, as well as mixing buckets of clay. This practice mirrors the act of Monks blessing objects. While the monks usually use chalk, the children seem to prefer clay which creates a far more satisfying mess.

While walking in Lumpini Park, we were approached by a group of four policemen, intent on smearing us with clay before taking a commemorative photo.

Being in Thailand for the New Year, we witnessed a country overcome by a contagious atmosphere of positivity and optimism. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements.

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