Songkran Festival - Thailand

Songkran festival, Thailand's most celebrated and most loved festival. It runs between April 13th and can vary in length, but usually lasts between 3-10 days, depending on where about you are in Thailand. The word Songkran is means solar year in Sanskrit. But nowadays Thailand celebrates the new year along with everyone else on December 31st.

  I had been to Thailand various different times before, but the atmosphere of this day was different. Everyone was excited, the market stools which were always open was today mysteriously closed? It was a curious feeling, like a strange alien invasion had occurred but instead of people going missing. Everyone who was everyone had crowed into the capital of Bangkok. Driving through the city hundreds of adults and children had set up stool on the back of cars with huge buckets of water, supporting water pistols and thrilled expressions on their faces. Within only 5 minutes our taxi was covered in a thick paste of flour and water as we made the mad dash from the car to the hotel managing to get drenched, as a little old man threw a bucket of ice water over us. Laughing and completely soaked from head to toe we were finally told about the festival and what it involved.

The next day, we journeyed out into koh san road armed with water pistols and raincoats. Almost immediately a group of children threw water bombs at us as we all ran for cover. The actual festival is really well organised, with free goods of water and fruit juices provided by various sponsorship deals. And a stereo playing music so the whole thing is like a huge party. Walking down the street you are greeted by friendly "sawadee ka" you are warmly shaken by the hand and are lightly covered in flour (okay sometimes they go slightly overboard, but it's a sign of respect so just go with it!) You're also kindly provided with water bags and covers, so no expensive equipment is damaged. Throughout the festival a camera for a Thai news channel roles capturing all the highlights of the day. The only bad thing about the festival is that all the shops are shut, so if you primarily came to Thailand for the clothes and the food you could be disappointed. But personally I think songkran is the most fun and adventurous thing I have experienced. It's also a chance to spend time with loved ones and just have a massive celebration. I would definitely recommend Songkran as a fantastic time to go to Thailand, if you like water fights, fun and hot weather. It would even be appropriate for children, as at the time I had my then 9 year old sister and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The only problem we encountered with her, was sometimes It would be a but much, with the cold water and the flour and as it's respectful for them, They're not likely to stop because you're not enjoying it. But to summarise I would say it was the most exciting water fight I've ever had and if you never experience it, you're missing out on a good soaking!