Songkran FAQ's :
-Songkran is Thailand's new year celebration
-Date 13. April - 16. April
-3 days waterfestival
-The word "Songkran" originates from the sanskrit word for "transition"
This is my second Songkran since I moved to Thailand and I love this national holiday. Everyone has vacation between the 13. April and 16. April, and during this period Thailand goes crazy. Everyone goes outside, music, flowers, delicious Thai food and of corse WATER everywhere.
If you plan to join this feastival, buckle up you are going to get not only wet but soaked in water!
April is the hottest month in Thailand, this year it was around 33 degrees celsius but in some years it it even hotter.
For Thai's Songkrans main focus is on the family as they go back to their families to celebrate with them. Their more traditional way of celebrating involves visiting the temple for prayers and splashing water on their kids and old relatives for good luck. I think this is where the big waterfestival developed from.
"Bathing a Buddha statue" is also a symbol for good luck in the new year. We had one in our condo lobby, but they are at every temple and spread on many public places.
You fill the cup next to the bowl with water and flowers and make a small silent prayer with the cup in you hand for the new year. And then carefully let water rinse over the Buddha statue.
In this sens, happy Thai new year!