Songkran Festival

Thailand’s most famous annual festival is known as Songkran. The Songkran festival is their New Year water festival; an important event on the Buddhism calendar that takes place April 13 – 16 and marks the beginning of the New Year. Festivals take place in cities all throughout the country. Bangkok, Phuket, and other cities draw visitors who enjoy the festivals from all over the world each year.

Which Festival to Visit:
Bangkok holds their festival at Wat Pho, which is one of the most significant Buddhist temples in all of Thailand; it is also home to a spectacular, gigantic gold plated and reclining Buddha. Another popular celebratory festival occurs annually at Khao San Road. This is a popular area for backpackers. Popular events include water throwing, performances, processions, parades, and the ritual of bathing images of Buddha.

Foods:
A seemingly endless variety of street foods and traditional Thai cuisines are also a part of the festivals. Be prepared to taste some incredible Thai flavors, textures, and spices through the 3 day event.

Water:
Water plays a huge role in this festival. People throw water on pedestrians, passing vehicles, motorcycles, and even elephants. So if you happen to be visiting Thailand during this time of the year, expect to get splashed by either a bucket of water, squirt gun, or a water hose.

Family:
Appreciation of family is also an important part of the festival, with families making it a priority to connect with their parents, siblings, and other family members.

First Day of the Festival:
The first day of the festival is an exuberant celebration with Buddha images, processions, and demonstrations happening all throughout the country. Many people are preparing their homes for the New Year celebration. This is the Day that the water action really starts going off, so if you’re in the region, it’s a good idea to keep on your toes!

Chaing Mai Songkran festival:
Chaing Mai has a celebration that generally runs a bit longer than the usual 3 days. This celebration festival kicks-off the event with and eye-catching procession that travels around the city. Street foods of all types are a big part of the event, as are the cultural celebrations of this part of northern Thailand, and the water throwing of course.