Visiting Thailand around the middle of April allows you to participate in Songkran, an annual festival widely regarded in and out of the nation. It is famous for having the world’s biggest water fight, with celebrants carrying ice buckets, super-soakers, and other water-spraying devices to battle against other people in the streets.
While most tourists join in on the fun, many locals also take this time to go through purification rituals and visit temples to refresh, cleanse, and wash away impurities and misfortunes from the previous year. Others go home to be reunited with their families and pay respect to parents and grandparents by pouring water onto their elders’ hands.
Activities To Do During Songkran
If you’re participating in Songkran and would like to do other enriching activities, we put together a list of things you can do to celebrate the holiday and elevate your Songkran Festival experience.
Visit The Monks
A Buddhist festival by origin, Songkran is the perfect opportunity to visit many of the temples in the area. Most temples organize ceremonies where visitors can pour water on monks’ hands and receive their blessing.
Meet Some Elephants
Most elephant sanctuaries welcome visitors and travelers to play with, feed, and bathe the elephants. These elephants welcome playful and friendly activities. They would even splash humans with water using their trunks.
The rescue, rehabilitation, and retirement parks are created to support the end of animal enslavement. We encourage you to visit them instead of doing tours that involve riding them, using them for photographs, or watching them perform circus-style tricks.
Build Sand Pagodas
Bringing sand into temple grounds is another way locals celebrate Songkran Festival. Some build sand pagodas and decorate them with colorful flags and flowers to compete or participate in the tradition.
The tradition began as it is believed that feet carry sand out of the temple grounds whenever anyone leaves. Taking sand into temples during Songkran is symbolic of returning the sand back. Some famous temples showcasing elaborate sand sculptures worth visiting include those in Phuket Old Town, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai Old City.
Bathe Buddha Statues
During Songkran, tourists will notice Thai Buddhists bathe Buddha statues or images by sprinkling scented water from distinct silver bowls. The water illustrates cleansing one’s spirit and another way of showing reverence to Buddha, like lighting incense sticks and candles.
Buddha statues and images will be paraded along the streets or displayed in malls. Visitors can also participate and pour water onto them.
Join Music Festivals
Many Songkran music festivals are held on famous streets. These streets transform into party venues with stages and sound systems to accommodate partygoers, DJs, singers, dancers, and artists. Beach clubs and nightclubs also host similar live events and pool parties that celebrate Songkran.
For a more private experience, some hotels and bars offer rooftop or barbecue parties for guests. Depending on the theme, these events will also have live DJ performances, buffets, and other activities.
Indulge in Khao Chae
Khao Chae, which means ‘rice soaked in water,’ is a popular delicacy enjoyed during summertime in Thailand. This meal used to be a royal dish that could only be enjoyed by the Thai royal court and members of the aristocracy.
Comprised of rice soaked in Jasmine water and different savory condiments, everyone can now indulge in this refreshing milk by ordering them from restaurants during the season. Some popular restaurants that serve authentic Khao Chae include The Mandarin Oriental Shop, Khao, and The House of Smooth Curry, among several others.
Watch Cultural Performances
After the playful water fights, delicious delicacies, and traditional ceremonies, tourists can absorb more of Thailand’s culture and heritage by watching local performances in public squares and larger arenas. Guests can expect mask dancers, elaborate costumes, shadow puppetry, and Thai demonstrations.
Some restaurants and bars also feature comics, acclaimed drag performers, and other creative performers to entertain and liven up the festival nights.
Related Article: Cultural Attractions in Phuket
Expect A Vibrant and Colorful 2023 Songkran Festival!
Songkran Festival brings people of all ages, classes, and regions together. As the first festival of this kind after a long pause from mass gatherings and social festivities, Songkran 2023 is shaping up to deliver a wet and joyous celebration. Whatever you choose to do to celebrate, remember to have fun, be kind and respectful, and greet the locals with a big Sawasdee Pee Mai!
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Featured Image: jcomp via Freepik
