Songkran festival: Thailand splashes into new year soaked in joy

For three days every April, Thailand becomes a giant splash zone. Songkran is celebrated from the 13th to 15th and blends spiritual rituals with joyful chaos, honouring New Year traditions while cooling off during the country’s hottest season.

(Image credit: AP)

Dressed in bright shirts and goggles, revellers sprayed water guns at each other to mark the start of Thailand’s Songkran festival. The nationwide event symbolises renewal, with water fights breaking out in streets, parks, and even from pickup trucks.

(Image credit: AP)

Though best known for its wild water fights, Songkran has deep cultural roots. It's tied to Thai New Year, the end of the rice harvest, and a time for purification, blessings, and expressing gratitude to elders and ancestors.

(Image credit: AP)

The festival’s name comes from Sanskrit, meaning “to move forward.” Rooted in ancient Hindu practices, Songkran celebrates the sun’s shift into Aries and is closely tied to Buddhist customs, temple visits, and rituals of spiritual cleansing.

(Image credit: AP)

During Songkran, people pour scented water on Buddha statues and elders’ hands, symbolising respect and renewal. It’s also a time for family reunions, temple offerings, and acts of kindness—infusing the festive chaos with heartfelt meaning and deep spirituality.

(Image credit: AP)

In places like Pattaya, celebrations stretch beyond the official three days, turning into week-long parties. With music, dance, parades, and water play, the beach towns especially draw crowds eager to experience Thailand’s most iconic cultural event.

(Image credit: AP)

April's scorching heat brings seasonal treats during Songkran. Mango sticky rice is everywhere, and cooling dishes like khao chae, rice in iced jasmine water, offer delicious relief. Locals warmly invite tourists to celebrate, share food, and learn the festival's traditions.

(Image credit: AP)

While Songkran is full of fun and laughter, safety and respect remain key. Many cities enforce rules against alcohol in public and protect sacred spaces from rowdy behaviour, ensuring the festival’s joyful spirit doesn’t overshadow its cultural and spiritual roots.

(Image credit: AP)