Songkran Festival is the traditional Thai New Year and is celebrated annually on April 13. Songkran comes from the Sanskrit word which means “move” or “change”. It is a time for cleaning and renewal for the locals, from correcting bad behaviour, setting new resolutions to spring cleaning at home. This festival is celebrated in Thailand and lasts between three to ten days, depending on which part of Thailand you are travelling to.

Often called the “Water” Festival, it is customary for the Thais to celebrate the festival with water! Relatives and friends get together and celebrate by visiting temples, sprinkling water on the images of Buddha and on their own hands as acts of good luck. Children however take this opportunity and great excuse for having water fights, throwing buckets of waters at anyone and using their water pistols to spray at passersby.

Where to go: The festival is celebrated mostly in the cities, however in Bangkok tourists can see and experience the full action in the Rattanakosin Island, which consists of the Grand Palace, Khao San Road and Sanam Luang areas. Visiting these areas is a must and it would be exhilarating to join the crowd in celebration and get soaked! During the festival, the Phra Buddha Sihing Image will be displayed at the Sanam Luang Park, where devotees and tourists can take part in bathing the image.

Songkran is also celebrating on a great scale in Changmai. Buddha images from the significant monasteries are marched through the streets and people can toss buckets of water at them. This symbolizes bathing of the images. Make a trip to the monasteries to sprinkle scented water over the Buddha images, this will apparently bring good luck and prosperity to the individual for the New Year.

On the first day of the festival, tourists can also travel to Paknam City to watch the parade. Stand amongst the crowd along the side of the road to watch the floats and processions go by. The locals will most likely spray water or pour water on you too!

Points to note: Keep a lookout when you’re walking along the roads or you might end up soaking wet as people sitting behind the trucks will hold buckets and splash water on you all in the name of fun! Therefore, zip up your belongings like digital cameras, phones in small zip lock bags to prevent them from getting wet. April is coincidentally the hottest month in Thailand, thus relax and enjoy getting splashed as the temperatures can soar up as high as 40 degree Celsius!

Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Bangkok holiday apartments & Holiday rental accommodation. http://www.holiday-velvet.com/bangkok