Your first Songkran can be a shock to the system. One minute you are walking to lunch; the next, a smiling stranger has emptied a bowl of water down your back and wished you a happy new year. It is one of the friendliest festivals anywhere, but it has deep roots and unwritten rules that locals appreciate visitors following. This guide explains what the festival means, how to join in respectfully, who to leave dry, what to wear and how to stay safe.<\/p>\n
Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year, celebrated nationally from 13 to 15 April; in 2027 those days run from Tuesday to Thursday. The name comes from a Sanskrit word for the sun moving from one zodiac sign into the next, and water is the festival’s central symbol: it cleanses, cools and carries good wishes. In December 2023, UNESCO added Songkran to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.<\/p>\n
Before the water fights come quieter rituals. Families reunite, often travelling back to their home provinces. People make merit by offering food to monks and pour scented water over Buddha images at temples. Younger people perform rot nam dam hua<\/em>, pouring fragrant water over the hands of parents, grandparents, teachers and other respected elders, who give their blessings in return. It is a moment to say thank you and ask forgiveness, and 13 April is also Thailand’s National Day for Older Persons.<\/p>\n The playful splashing grew out of these gestures, which explains most of the etiquette: the water is meant as a blessing and a bit of fun, never as an attack.<\/p>\n Play in the designated zones, where everyone has signed up for a soaking, and remember that the streets beyond them are full of people trying to get to work, catch a bus or run errands. A cheerful sawasdee pee mai<\/em> (Happy New Year) goes a long way, and so does a smile when you are the one getting wet.<\/p>\n Dress for getting wet, but remember that you are still out in public in a fairly conservative country. Lightweight, quick-drying clothes in darker colours work best. Avoid thin white or pale fabrics that turn see-through when soaked, and keep swimwear for the beach or pool: walking city streets in a bikini or with no shirt can cause offence, and authorities have warned that indecent dress during Songkran can bring a fine.<\/p>\n The bright floral shirts sold everywhere in April are a popular, practical choice. Add strapped sandals, sunglasses or goggles and a hat, plus a dry layer covering shoulders and knees if you plan to visit a temple.<\/p>\n Water gets everywhere during Songkran, including into supposedly water-resistant phones. A clear waterproof pouch on a lanyard keeps your phone close and still lets you take photos. Police have advised using tightly sealed waterproof bags in crowded areas rather than bags that hang loosely, which also deters pickpockets.<\/p>\n Ordinary water from a bowl, a bucket or a small water gun is what Songkran is all about. Some popular extras are less welcome.<\/p>\n Thailand’s road-safety campaign around Songkran is known as the ‘seven dangerous days’, a week-long period spanning the holiday when authorities step up checkpoints and enforcement. The name is a sober reminder: with huge numbers of people travelling, celebrating and drinking, the holiday is one of the most dangerous times of the year on Thai roads. In recent years the toll over those seven days has run to hundreds of deaths, with motorcycles involved in most crashes and speeding a leading cause. As a visitor, you can stay well clear of those statistics:<\/p>\n April is one of the hottest months of the year across much of Thailand, and being wet can hide how much fluid you are losing. Drink water regularly, add an electrolyte drink if you are out all day, reapply water-resistant sunscreen and take a long break in the shade around midday. Dizziness, headache or nausea are signs to stop and cool down, and to seek help if they don’t improve.<\/p>\n Most people you meet during Songkran are simply out to have fun, and serious trouble is rare. Still, the busiest zones bring the usual big-event issues. Water guns, drinks and rides tend to cost more right next to the action, so buy supplies a few streets away. Agree the fare before getting into a tuk-tuk, or use metered taxis or ride-hailing apps, and keep an eye on your belongings in tight crowds. If anyone touches you inappropriately, move away and tell police nearby or call the Tourist Police on 1155; police have warned of heavy penalties for sexual harassment during the festival.<\/p>\n The bottom line:<\/strong> Songkran is easy to love once you understand it. Treat the water as a blessing, include only people who want to play, dress sensibly, keep your valuables sealed and stay off the roads after a drink. Then pick your setting: the city-centre water fights in our guide to Songkran in Bangkok<\/a>, the Lanna traditions of Songkran in Chiang Mai<\/a>, the beaches and Old Town of Songkran in Phuket<\/a>, or the extended Wan Lai celebrations of Songkran in Pattaya and Chonburi<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" First Songkran? What the festival means, who not to splash, what to wear, how to protect your phone and passport, and how to stay safe in the heat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[181],"tags":[],"province":[],"class_list":["post-5099","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-festivals-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5099","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5099"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5099\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5153,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5099\/revisions\/5153"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5099"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5099"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5099"},{"taxonomy":"province","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/songkran.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/province?post=5099"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}How to join in respectfully<\/h2>\n
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Who not to splash<\/h3>\n
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What to wear<\/h2>\n
Protecting your phone, money and passport<\/h2>\n
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Water, ice and powder: what’s okay<\/h2>\n
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Alcohol, roads and the ‘seven dangerous days’<\/h2>\n
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Heat, crowds and fair prices<\/h2>\n
Good to know<\/h2>\n
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