MENU

A girl pours water on an elder's hands.

P H OTO G R A P H B Y P R ATC H AYA , G E T T Y I M A G E S

Songkran
Get the scoop on this splashy spring festival in Thailand.

B Y R O S E D AV I D S O N

Bring out the water hoses, and don’t be afraid to get a little
wet! Songkran, a festival marking the Thai New Year, is all
about making a fresh start with a splash.

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE

The festival in Thailand kicks off on April 13 and usually lasts
three days, though festivities can start early or end later in
some cities. The holiday’s main focus is about moving forward
—in fact, the word Songkran comes from a phrase in the
Sanskrit language that means “passage of the sun.”

Water plays a major role in the festival. Symbolically it washes

away the previous year so people can get ready for the next
one. But many other Songkran traditions use water as well.

SPRING CLEANING
People prepare for the new year by cleaning houses, schools,
offices, and other public spaces. They’re joined by family
members who have moved away and returned for the holiday
to spend time with loved ones.

Many families wake up early during Songkran and visit

Buddhist temples, where they bring offerings such as food
and listen to monks as they preach. (Buddhism is a religion
practiced mostly in eastern and central Asia.) Visitors sprinkle
clean or scented water over statues of Buddha—the person
believed to have started Buddhism—to represent purification
and good fortune. Younger people also pour water on the
hands of elderly relatives and friends to show their respect
and ask for blessings in the coming year.

Two people pour water on a Buddha statue.

P H OTO G R A P H B Y TAY L O R W E I D M A N , G E T T Y I M A G E S

Some temple visitors bring sand, which is meant to replenish

the sand that’s been carried away on shoes throughout the
year. They leave the sand in stupas (or mounds) on the
ground, which are then decorated with colorful flags and
flowers.

SUPER SOAKED
Honoring family traditions and religious practices are
important parts of Songkran, but so is having some fun.
Outside, Songkran is celebrated with street parties featuring
loud music and a giant friendly water fight.

People collect water in buckets, squirt guns, and anything else

they can find, then hit the streets to playfully splash each
other. It’s a good thing April is one of the hottest months of
the year in Thailand!

EXPLORE MORE

Celebrations
Learn about holidays and festivals celebrated around the
world.

Winter Celebrations

Wackiest Places Around The World

Countries

LEGAL OUR SITES

Terms of Use National Geographic

Privacy Policy National Geographic Education

Your US State Privacy Rights Shop Nat Geo

Children's Online Privacy Policy Customer Service

Interest-Based Ads

About Nielsen Measurement

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal

Information

JOIN US

Subscribe

Manage Your Subscription

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society

Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

ADVERTISEMENT