Thai New Year - Thailand

‘Songkran’, or Thai New Year, is celebrated across Southeast Asia with the same enthusiasm as Chinese New Year. The emphasis is placed firmly on fun, with celebrations on every street.

The festival takes place between the 13th and 15th April and basically involves a lot of water throwing! Locals take their water guns, buckets, and sometimes even hoses, to the streets and soak anyone who happens to look even slightly dry.

On a more serious note, images of Buddha are then paraded through the streets. But they, too, are ritually soaked by the masses as the water is seen as a symbolic way to cleanse and bathe the deity.

Away from the torrent of flying water, locals visit a 'wat' (temple) to pray and make resolutions and then visit friends and relatives. Like Chinese New Year, Songkran was traditionally a time when younger generations visited their elders to secure a strong familial tie.

Today, however, much of the seriousness of the event has been lost beneath the barrage of water. So whether you’re feeling reverential or playful, Songkran is a great time to experience some festive spirit with a unique Thai twist.

Tourists in search of accommodation for the New Year festival can choose from a wide variety of excellent  hostels in Bangkok, with Niras Bankoc Boutique Hostel being a particular favourite amongst travelers looking to experience the local culture.