Songkran: Thailand's Water Festival

Emily Eastman talks about her experiences of the Thai Water Festival and the traditional festivities of Songkran, which is celebrated every year from the 13th to the 15th of April. It is renowned throughout the world for its festive water celebration.
Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.
A common misconception is that Songkran, or Thai New Year, will involve a group of preschoolers brandishing a few water pistols at their carefully selected co-celebrators. Taking place in April, Songkran embraces everyone.

Nonetheless, this is not to suggest that the religious undertones are gone entirely. Thai people will spend a portion of Songkran visiting Wats (Buddhist monasteries) to give alms and ask for forgiveness, before focusing on what they hope the coming year will bring. As with Western culture, Thai people make New Year’s resolutions and not only cleanse themselves, but cleanse their homes with a thorough housekeeping session.

The northern capital of Chiang Mai plays host to the biggest celebrations of Songkran, with some festivities reputedly spanning six days. It is also more common in the north of Thailand for people to collect sand, which is taken to their local monastery. This sand — symbolic of dirt carried on their feet for the past year — is used to replenish the monastery before being sculpted into piles and decorated with colorful, celebratory flags.

The Khao San Road is the undisputed hub of activity for Bangkok’s modern celebration of Songkran. Cordoned off to traffic, the atmosphere in the backpacker district is electric. Thai and Farang (foreigners) alike hold posts equipped with cannon-sized water guns, pressure hoses and gigantic cooler boxes, with suitably strong men manning the buckets beside them.

It is impossible to leave your hotel room without encountering the mayhem, and you will soon find any resistance dwindling. 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. Children especially take delight in approaching Farang (foreigners) with a Wai and an apologetic smile as they wipe the clay on either cheek and utter ‘sa-wat-dee pi mai‘, or ‘Happy New Year’. 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.

It is illustrative of Thai culture that no one — apart from Monks, Nuns and the elderly — is exempt from Songkran’s buoyant festivities. 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. In spite of being drenched for three days running, and having clothes and sightseeing plans ruined, it was impossible to be annoyed: Songkran demonstrates Thailand’s ever-affirmative outlook on life.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.