Thailand's Songkran Festival: From Rituals to Ward Off Bad Luck to Water Fights
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UNGKIT.COM – Songkran is Thailand's traditional New Year festival, held annually from April 13 to 15.
Songkran coincides with the New Year in several South and Southeast Asian calendars. The festivities take place during the final days of the old year, with the Lunar New Year beginning immediately after the celebration concludes.
In northeastern India, the festival is known as Sangken and is celebrated as the traditional New Year by Buddhist communities, including the Khampti people.
Sangken generally falls during 'Naun Ha'—the fifth month of the Khampti lunar calendar—which corresponds to April.
The festival is also celebrated by the Singpho, Khamyang, Tikhak (Tangsa), and Phakyal communities in Arunachal Pradesh, as well as the Tai Phake community in Assam.
The Excitement of Songkran in Thailand
During the festival, Thailand comes alive with various activities organized by locals, ranging from rituals like washing Buddha statues, offering food to monks, building sand pagodas, and releasing birds and fish, to spirited water fights.
The act of splashing water on one another during Songkran symbolizes a purification ritual intended to wash away bad luck and welcome a fresh start.
The most popular street tradition involves locals and tourists alike splashing each other with water or using water guns.
This water fight tradition originated from the custom of splashing water used to wash Buddha statues; the practice was intended to garner blessings and good fortune for the new year while cleansing oneself of any impurities or misfortunes.
As Thailand experiences its hottest weather, the water fight ritual at the Songkran Festival has become a highly anticipated attraction for tourists visiting the country—often nicknamed the "Land of the White Elephant." (*)
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