Songkran, the Thai New Year

The Songkran Festival marks the Thai New Year.

The festival begins during the fifth month of the Thai lunar calendar, which coincides with the hottest week of the year around April 12 and lasts for a minimum of three days. During this time, Buddhists visit temples to perform religious rituals, including pouring scented water over Buddha statues.

Within families, sacred water is poured over the hands of elders as a sign of respect and to grant their wishes. The celebration continues with massive and unforgettable water fights across the country, which turns into a giant battlefield ideally with icy water all in a joyful and playful atmosphere.

During the festival, it’s also common to smear people’s faces with white rice powder, which is often seen as a playful way to show interest or affection toward someone. The streets fill with water guns and pickup trucks carrying Thai people ready to ambush you with a good soaking.

If you're in Thailand during Songkran, be prepared to get wet from head to toe!

A few rules to follow:
Never become violent or aggressive if you don’t want your holiday to take a bad turn!
Do not soak elderly people excessively, especially not in the face even if they splash you first. They deserve your respect.

Tip:
Think about buying a plastic pouch to protect your documents and phone during Songkran (available locally).

Songkran Festival 2025 in Bangkok:
From April 13 to 15, 2025 – Happy Songkran to all!

Text translated from French to English using ChatGPT.