If you are anywhere in South East Asia in the near future and you haven’t already heard, you absolutely have to stay in Thailand for the biggest New Year Celebrations come water-fight festival: Songkran Festival in Thailand 2015. This year, the Thai New Year’s Festival will take place during April 13th – April 15th 2015, and promises to be as much fun as ever.

Songkran Festival in Thailand 2015 - What is Songkran?

Songkran, literally translating to “astrological passage”, is an ancient tradition still marked today in order to celebrate the coming of a new age. Songkran Festival in Thailand traditionally involves washing away the past by pouring fresh water fragranced with herbs in order to leave you fresh and cleansed for the start of the New Year.

There is a strong traditional element to Songkran Festival in Thailand; being the most prominent holiday of the year, Thai individuals largely prefer to spend it with their families. An important part of this is the ‘Dam Hua’ ceremony, where younger family members pay respect to their elders by bowing, giving offerings and pouring lustrul water over their hands whilst saying a prayer. Elders can be within the family, but also include respected old teachers, lecturers, mentors and figures of general respect. For Thai people, the main focal points of the celebrations usually take place at temples.

Nowadays, tourists largely recognise the festival as the biggest water-fight in Thailand...

Songkran Festival in Thailand 2015 - How else is it celebrated now?

A crowd of people armed in super-soakers at Chiang Mai!

The Songkran Festival in Thailand tradition has evolved over the centuries; nowadays locals and tourists take to the streets, usually armed with a water-gun and water bombs, for the biggest national water-fight. The symbolism of the water endures; the water being thrown over you is to wash away any bad luck from the last 12 months, so that you can have a fresh year of good fortune. Streets become filled with people throwing water at each other, making for great water fun and games to help keep you cool in the sun! Make sure you bring sealable plastic bags for precious or damageable items, and make sure your camera is waterproof!

Songkran Festival is also widely celebrated in surrounding countries such as Burma, Cambodia and the state of Lao. Throughout, it is known as one of the biggest and most fun festivals loved by all. Elderly grandparents and young children alike take part in this modern adaptation of a traditional way of marking the passage into a new beginning.

Although there are many great places to be when celebrating "Songkran Festival in Thailand", Chiang Mai holds the most notable celebrations. In Chiang Mai the festival is celebrated for at least 3 days, the biggest celebrations being on the 13th April. On this day a procession of Buddha images from all of the temples in Chiang Mai is held along Thapae Road into the old city towards Wat Phra Singh temple (located 70 metres from Rachamanka luxury hotel). During the procession, the old city’s streets are lined with Buddhists looking for blessings of holy water in-keeping with the cleansing symbolism of the festival.  

Many also exclaim that the biggest and most fun water-fights take place on the streets of Chiang Mai. Participators eagerly gather on the outskirts of the old city over the 3 days to bless each other by throwing or squirting water in the true Thai spirit of ‘Sanuk’ (fun).

Songkran Festival in Thailand 2015 - Where should I stay?

Street water fights in Phuket!

Songkran Festival in Thailand can be enjoyed by all. But for those who like a spot of luxury, we recommend these four exclusive hotels and resorts in Thailand. They locate you near the right places to enjoy the festivities, whilst also providing welcome respite, and a retreat away from it all for those who may not wish to get involved.

Chiang Mai – Rachamankha. Chiang Mai without a doubt has the biggest and most recognisable festivities over Songkran, with Buddha images that are carried out of the temples and through the streets. It is thoroughly entertaining to witness and participate in, and Rachamanka locates you wonderfully close to Wat Phra Temple where the procession ends!

Bangkok – The Oriental Residence. The capital city of Thailand is surprisingly quiet during Songkran, although there may be a few goings-on in Koh San (the backpacker district). The Oriental Residence Bangkok locates you in the heart of the city so you can enjoy the height of Thai hospitality during Songkran without too much disturbance.

Krabi – Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve. This resort is celebrating Songkran in style. Celebrating the festivity with a special Songkran Buffet the evening of the 13rd of April, you can expect to experience the Thai new year with traditional water ceremonies and blessings! And you can take it from us: the buffet menu looks fantastic!

Phuket – Trisara. Phuket knows how to welcome tourists during the Songkran Festival in Thailand. As well as the mandatory friendly water fights that take place on the streets, there are usually also many culture shows and other festivities going on.

If you’d like to know more about Songkran Festival in Thailand, and the festivities you can expect, call one of our specialists on 0161 233 0110!

The Songkran festival is the perfect time for online casino players to visit Thailand. The festival is held every April and is a great opportunity to take advantage of the beautiful weather in the country. One of the main reasons why online casino players visit the Songkran festival is because of the many gambling opportunities. There are many casinos located all over Thailand and many of them offer special promotions and bonuses during the festival. In addition, there are a number of online gambling sites https://lowdepositcasino.com/casino-bonuses/deposit-10-get-50/ that offer special Songkran bonuses and promotions.

Image credits: flickr.com (KIm, Ronald Tan, Wyndham Hollls)