Thursday May 23

Trip and Hotel for Songkran Thailand's Water Festival

Trip and Hotel for Songkran Thailand's Water Festival

 



      Songkran Thailand's Water Festival Stay indoors On April 13 - 15 Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year. Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins.If you happen to be in Thailand    . Or step out if you love water... and getting wet! For it's a given that you won't escape the water pistols, the water balloons and buckets of water as the Thais celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year.






    'Songkran' (from the Sanskrit word Sankranti, signifying the sun's shift from one zodiac to another) heralds the beginning of the solar year and is the most important festival for the people of Thailand. The festival is celebrated over three days, 'Mahasongkran' on the 13th of April marks the end of the old year, Wan Nao (14th April) is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok when the New Year begins. Sonkgran is akin to the Indian festival of Holi and the Chinese festival of Ching Ming. Though it is celebrated all over Thailand with great gusto and enthusiam, it is in Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Bangkok, Sukhothai, Ayutthaya, Hua Hin, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Phuket, Koh Samui   that the Thais hold the very important ritual of bathing the Buddha and people from all over come to be witness to this event.



 
    On New Year's Day, Thais pray to the Buddha, clean temples and houses, offer alms to the monks and sprinkle scented water on elders as a mark of respect. The pouring of water is symbolic of the cleansing of the spirit, mind and body. The water is also supposed to wash away bad luck - so consider yourself blessed if you get drenched! Happily, Songkran falls during the hottest time of the year and the water is a welcome relief. 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

     In Bangkok, the Buddha image "Buddhasihing" is brought out from the National Museum for people to sprinkle lustral water at Sanam Luang, opposite the Grand Palace.  Anyone who goes out on the street is likely to get a thorough soaking.  People believe that water will wash away bad luck, and splashing water over friends or anyone will give them a New Year blessing.


Getting to Thailand  is fairly convenient and easy, withBangkok  being the primary international airport receiving hundreds of flights from all over the world, including other parts of Asia, Europe and North America.

Read more on where to stay  and things to do in Thailand .