Songkran Festival in Thailand

Songkran is the Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for about 3 days. The word means "move" or "change place" Traditionally it was a moveable holiday like the Western Easter based on astronomical movement and the change of Season. However, the festival is now always held in mid-April.

Songkran is a combination of the Western Christmas, New Year, Easter and Thanksgiving. It is the time families try to get together. This means that the mass transport systems and roads are over-utilised as people move around the country to join their families, often in rural areas. It provides an opportunity for family members to get together for religious and recreational purposes. Youngsters pay respect to their parents and grandparents by pouring scented water onto their hands. The elders in return wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity. In the homes and temples the religious significance is celebrated by making merit and by a wholesale cleaning of images and the general area.

April in Thailand is a month between the Dry Season and the Wet. It is often very hot and humid with not a lot of relief by way of rain. The tradition of throwing water that is a main feature of this festival dates back to rural pre-Buddist rituals where the throwing of water was a symbol of luck to bring good rain for the crops.

However, for most tourists it is the aspect of water throwing that they will either love or hate. There is no in-between.

While the traditional gentle cleansing of spirit and materials is a ceremony of great charm and significance. In modern Thailand the simple act of merit by pouring or gently splashing water onto the hands or head of a person has become a roisterous free-for-all water throwing riot. Be prepared to be soaked. The water will be from buckets, huge water pistols, hoses (even fire hoses), the back of pick-up trucks or simple decorative bowls. The source of the water is not always from a tap! You can be wearing shorts and you'll be targeted, you can be wearing a business suit and you are a sure target. There is no mercy. Accompanying the water is often a talcum powder which sticks to your clothes and skin. At all times just be prepared to be doused and make sure your valuables including money, cameras, mobile phones are well protected from water damage.

If you are in Thailand at this time you have to join the party, there is no escape unless you stay indoors all the time. The crowds, both Thai and foreigners, celebrating Songkran are exuberant and uninhibited. It's unlikely you'll ever be with a happier group of people. And you'll all be wet together. So if you want to experience all the fun and frivolity take yourself to Kaosan Road, Silom Road around Patpong or Soi 4, and the Nana areas in Bangkok and for that real country feel of Songkran there is nowhere better than Chiang Mai the "capital" of Northern Thailand.

The indiscriminate nature of the frivolities and the accompanying festivities which, usually means consuming much alcohol, that can lead to tragic consequences. The road toll at this time of the year is horrendous. Statistically it is young people affected by alcohol, on speeding motorbikes, on roads made slippery by water, who are the main victims. Water being thrown into the face of oncoming vehicles is considered "fun". So while it may be fun it has serious consequences. There have been some moves to curtail the excesses but these have generally been unsuccessful.

While shops in the main centres will be open albeit with reduced staff, banks, government offices and most commercial businesses can be closed for 5 days. The Money Changing Exchanges of the banks, however, will be open.

Pattaya celebrates the water throwing part of Songkran a week later than the rest of Thailand. This may be to give people a chance to escape it within the country.

So if you plan to be in Thailand between 13 and 16 April be prepared to enter into the fun of Songkran or lock yourself away.

The festival is also celebrated in neighbouring countries like Laos and Burma (Myanmar).