Songkran – A Splash of Thai Tradition

This national celebration of the tradition Thai New Year captures the imagination of travellers for both its cultural and fun attributes; the latter being enthusiastic bouts of water splashing between friends and relatives. In Bangkok, the Songkran Grand Celebration will be held between 10 and 15 April around the Rattanakosin Island district, sometimes called Old Bangkok. The main celebrations, in the capital, focus on bathing rites of replicas of revered Buddha images originating from various provinces in the North, South, East and central regions, interspersed with traditional food and dessert-making demonstrations and cultural performances. The opening ceremony will take place, 10 April, at Phra Chetupon Wimol Manklaram or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. There are also important celebrations through the country at various tourist destinations: • Old City Songkran Festival, Ayutthaya • Songkran Festival, Chon Buri • Amazing Songkran, Suphan Buri • Phra Pradaeng Songkran Festival, Samut Prakarn • Songkran Festival, Chiang Mai • Songkran Festival, Sukhothai • Fantastic Northeast Songkran, Golden Shower Tree and Kan Festival and Sticky Rice Road in Khon Kaen • Grand Northeast Songkran Festival, Nong Khai • Songkran Nakhon Phnom and Thai-Lao New Year Celebration • Hat Yai Midnight Songkran, Songkhla • Grand Songkran Festival and Nang Dan Parade, Nakhon Si Thammarat • Songkran on the Beach and Phuket Bike Week 2010