Introduction to Songkran

The word “Songkran” originally comes from the Sanskrit language and means “move into”, referring to the orbit of the sun moving into Aries. It marks the end of a year long cycle and is the beginning of the new solar year. Thus Songkran is the Thai New Year celebration.

The Songkran celebration is notably the Kingdom’s most fun filled (sanuk) festival and is celebrated nation wide each year. The holiday is 3 days long from April 13-15, but in many parts of Thailand it is celebrated for much of the month of April.

Most of the world recognizes Songkran as a fun filled time when people of all ages (but especially children and young adults) flock to the streets to shower each other with water. This refreshing solution to beating the April heat in Thailand ranges from harmless water pistols and splashing to bottles, buckets and water cannons delivering a soaking deluge of water to the unwary. However, many may not know that there is a deeper significance to Songkran.

Obviously as a New Year celebration Songkran is a time for new beginnings, and it is also considered to be a time for thanksgiving. It is a time for people to reflect on acts of thoughtfulness and kindness that they have experienced and to consider how these acts bring peace, happiness and well-being. It is also a time for reunions and most Thai’s return to their family homes to renew family ties.

Songkran embodies the traditional Thai cultural values and the underlying significance of Songkran is the process of purification and cleansing. This is a cleansing of all evils, ills and misfortunes that may have occurred and starting the New Year fresh with all the is good and pure. Water is symbolic of the cleaning process and signifies purity.

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