No sooner than New Year & Chinese New Year are over, and another one, Songkran in Thailand, is almost upon us!






The Thai New Year, Songkran, is celebrated from 13th. April to 15th. every year, except if you are in Pattaya, where the main festival day is on 19th. April, which is also the last official day of Songkran in the city. This is because the Songkran festival floats that have been traveling around the other main cities of Chonburi province arrive on the 19th. So, Songkran in Pattaya is probably from the 13th. April to the 19th., although nobody is really too sure about that!



As Songkran this year falls on Monday through to Wednesday this year, I expect most business will be closed for the week.



Songkran, which is often called the Water Festival, is probably the most important holiday period in Thailand, and is a time to visit family and pay respect to elders, including family and friends.



Traditionally, Songkran was a religious purification event, with the actual ceremony being scented water poured over the palms of the hands in order to wash away bad thoughts and actions of the previous year. The scented water is also poured over the shoulders. Generally, these actions are carried out by children and younger people to show respect to their elders.



Whilst the traditional pouring of water still happens throughout Thailand in homes, hotels, and offices, nowadays, it has evolved into drenching people with copious amounts of water.



Various methods are used to soak people. One popular way is climb into the back of a pick-up loaded up with at least one large barrel of iced-water and throwing buckets of water on passers-by. Another is to stand on street corners and shooting water at the passers-by, and the pick-up riders, with high pressure plastic water guns and hose pipes.



In addition to a good dowsing, you can also expect to have a chalk-based paste smeared on your face and neck. Again, this has traditional roots, and the intentions are to help protect you from evil spirits.



Whilst many farangs, foreigners in the Thai language, may not always see the funny side of this of all of this, to the Thai, especially youngsters, it is all about having sanook, or fun. And, given that April is generally the hottest month of the year in Thailand, with temperatures often over 40 degrees centigrade, it can be a great way to cool down!



As I already mentioned, it is a time to visit family, and with Songkran being a national holiday, Bangkok is almost deserted. This means that it is an excellent time to explore Bangkok without sitting for hours in traffic jams.



If you plan to go to the provinces during Songkran do take care on the roads. Over the holiday period the number of fatal road accidents dramatically increases, with several hundred people dying each year.



I still very much enjoy Songkran, and whilst I no longer partake in the Bangkok water parties in Patpong, NEP and Soi Cowboy, it is a great time to wander around your local area and, literally, soak up the fun and games. So go on, put on your shorts and T-shirt, wrap your wallet in a plastic bag, and, importantly, leave the mobile phone at home!!



If you want to go a little further, try out Wat Po, well known for the Reclining Buddha and its Tradition Thai Massage Centre. You will find Wat Po on Maharat Rod., and, being near the Chaophya River, you can get there by river boat if you stop at the Tha Tien pier. From the 10th. April to the 15th., you will find some great Thai food and traditional cultural entertainment.

So yet again, sawadee pi mai, or happy new year! Or, if want to try an alternative version in Thai, suksan wan Songkran! And if you want to send a few free Songkran e-cards go to www.songkran.net/en/online_5.php