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UNESCO just declared Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year festivity as an Intangible Cultural Heritage. This accreditation recognises the cultural significance and ongoing value of Songkran, which joins Khon (2018), Thai massage (2019), and Nora (2021) on Thailand's list of intangible cultural treasures.
Songkran is the Thai New Year, and observed as a national holiday on April 13 each year. However, like with most things in Thailand, the natives do not shy away from celebrations, therefore the holiday season lasts five days. It allows people to return home for the holiday, but it also allows tourists to participate in the festivities. While the New Year is still celebrated on January 1, Songkran was the official Thai New Year until 1940, when it became a national holiday, providing an opportunity to uphold traditions and have some fun.
Songkran is taken from the Sanskrit language and means 'move into,' alluding to the sun's orbit going into each of the zodiac houses. In Thailand, the term Songkran has come to be associated with the sun entering Aries in April, signalling the conclusion of a 12-month cycle and the start of a new solar year. The famous Songkran New Year Water Festival in Thailand is set for April 13-15 this year. Celebrations in some regions (such as Pattaya and Chonburi) have been extended to include the Wan Lai Festival.
Water has several connotations. Water is thrown to cleanse and purify the previous year's evils, misfortune, and wrongdoing, thereby offering a clean slate for the coming year. Water is also associated with fertility during Songkran. It is a season when Thai people traditionally strive to bring on the rains in order to ensure a good and bountiful crop.
While the water fights and party atmosphere rightly attract the attention of most visitors, there is so much more to the festivities. For Thai Buddhists, the Songkran New Year Water Festival is rich in tradition and significance.
This festival's symbolic traditions are fascinating. Songkran is an annual statewide celebration in Thailand, with water fights breaking out in villages and cities across the country. While the splashing of water is perhaps the more fun aspect of Songkran, major roadways are roped off and made into venues for water battles.
It is regarded as a holiday of unification, with those who have moved away from their family returning to their respective homes to meet elders and loved ones. This is because displaying homage to ancestors is an important component of the Songkran tradition. It is also customary to pay visits to local temples and provide meals to monks.
During the festival, you may see elephants and handlers parade through the streets, their bodies decked with flowers and hearts. Many elephants in Thailand are employed by tour companies that charge tourists to ride and bathe the beasts, a profitable but problematic tourist attraction in the kingdom. Asian elephants are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and yet, travellers often want to indulge in the romanticism of a 'cultural experience' which involves riding and interacting with these elephants. Check here for our article on ethical animal experiences.
While the festival is held across Thailand, there are a few noteworthy places you can head out to.
Silom, Bangkok: The crowd simply goes berserk on this five-km stretch in Bangkok. Armed with water sprayers of every possible size and shape, the people attack each other. The BTS skywalk makes for a great vantage point to watch the riotous scene below.
Khao San Road, Bangkok: Another place where the local people and foreigners break into a raucous celebration.
Phra Athit Road, Bangkok: Enjoy the local cultural programmes and merit making functions
Sanam Luang, Bangkok: The sacred Buddha image from the National Museum is taken out in a procession for the people to sprinkle water on it. The image is then kept in the square, opposite the Grand Palace, for people to pay their respects.
Rattanokosin Square, Bangkok: The temples here are thronged by the devout as part of their ‘merit making’ efforts. Stupas are made of sand and decorated with flags and flowers.
Ayutthaya: A merit-making ceremony is held at Viharn Phra Mongkolborpit.
Chiang Mai: The Prapeni Pi Mai Mueang lasts five days. The Pae Gate and the Moat area are the places to go to join the water fights. Building sand stupas and other merit making activities happen at Wat Phra Sing.
