Songkran – What to See More Than Just Water Fights
Songkran is probably one of the most fun festive times in Thailand. It is the Thai new year and national holiday. It is the time when people go back to their families, spend quality time together. Songkran day is on April 13 of every year, and the holiday period extends from 14 to 15 April to enable people to travel home for the holidays. The word ‘Songkran’ came from the Sanskrit word meaning transformation or change. It is the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia.
More Than Just Splashing
There are plenty of symbolic traditions during Songkran celebration, beginning with merit-making in the morning. Locals visit temples and offer food to monks. Other traditional rituals include pouring water on Buddha statues and the young performing water pouring to the elderly, representing purification and the washing away of one’s sins and bad luck. However, the Songkran festival is known internationally as the ‘Water Festival,’ and major streets throughout the country are closed to traffic and used as arenas for water fights. People of all ages celebrate this tradition of splashing water on each other; traditional parades are held nationwide. You will probably hear locals say ‘Sawaddee Pemai’ which means happy new year to each other while having water fights on the street.
A Time for Family and Hope
Under the surface of a fun water festival, Songkran is definitely a time to visit families, friends, and loved ones, much like Christmas for Westerners. Some families have traditional dishes that they would cook together once a year during the festive time. A well-rounded Songkran practice is recommended, so you can deepen your experience and understand the culture better than just a brush on the water fights’ surface.
Due to the serious COVID-19 situation in April 2020, the virus put a paid to Songkran. The government banned large public gatherings, and the celebration was suspended nationwide in 2020, the first time ever in the history of the Songkran festival in Thailand that this has happened. With the vaccine and the situation looking better this year, everyone is hoping to be able to celebrate the Songkran festival again in 2021 with hope and a brighter future to come. Locals are looking forward to spending time with families and loved ones; kids are expected to have their fun time with friends away from school. Especially this year, it’s a time that all of us are looking forward to a shining light of hope.
Celebrate Songkran in Phuket
Phuket has welcomed millions of visitors during April each year to celebrate the Songkran festival. The famous street in Phuket where most people go to celebrate is, no doubt, Patong Beach and Bangla Road. Some may find that a little too busy for such a relaxing period. An alternative venue that can be as much fun in terms of water fights but not as crowded is on Kata and Kata Noi Beach. The ocean has never been so pristine; the best time to visit Phuket is now! Luxe-villas has many luxury properties located less than 2 minutes drive or a 5-10 minute walk to the famous Kata and Kata Noi Beach. You can celebrate the fun Songkran on the beach while staying with us. For more information, please send your inquiry on the contact page.