Apart from its soul-soothing natural beauty and sassy nightlife, Thailand is globally applauded for its rich cultural heritage and perhaps the best way to absorb it is to partake in any of the country’s colourful cultural fests. For those planning a visit to Thailand in mid-April, one such cultural extravaganza – the famous water festival ‘Songkran’ – awaits with loads of fun and merrymaking. A nation-wide celebration of the traditional Thai New Year, Songkran Festival allows travellers to combine their holidays in Thailand with unlimited fun, food, cultural festivity and a lot more.
Songkran festival by Jan/ CC BY
How
It’s fundamentally a water fight, purely for fun. Heaps of locals and tourists alike come out on the streets with water-guns, buckets and other water-containers to drench each other. Only clean water is thrown, which is a symbol of purity. It is much like the Holi Festival in India and La Tomatino in Spain. But Songkran is not just about splashing water. It is a day of great spiritual significance. People pray at Buddhist temples and pay homage to the Lord Buddha. The markets offer delicious Thai cuisines, leaving foodies gloating about their decision of picking this time to board flights to Thailand.
When
Traditionally, the fest is the New Year Eve celebration that takes place in mid-April in Thailand. In 2015, it will be celebrated from April 13 to 15.
Where
Bangkok hosts one of the most boisterous cultural celebrations in Thailand. The conviviality takes a whole new meaning, with scores of international tourists flocking to the Thai capital to celebrate this amazing fest with the locals. Chiang Mai is another place where Songkran festivities engulf all major tourist spots. People in the province of Ratchaburi use herbal coloured water to make the festival more special.
More on Thai Holidays in April
April is a great time for a sojourn to Thailand’s sprawling islands and beaches. Buy tickets to Hua Hin for a serene escape or choose Pattaya or Phuket to enjoy enthralling water sports and the colourful Thai nightlife! Bangkok itself offers an abundance of tourist delights that make your trip worth much more than what the flights and holiday packages to Thailand cost.
