My Thailand Diary

Songkran is a Thai traditional New Year which starts on April 13 every year and lasts for 3 days. Songkran festival on April 13 is Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14 is Wan Nao which is the day after and April 15 is Wan Thaloeng Sok which the New Year begins. Songkran is the time of the year when people go back to their families. I’d say the emotional importance for Songkran is like christmas for us.. people go home.  Families gather in order to express their respect to their elders by pouring scented water onto the hands of their parents, grandparents and other older people. In return the elders wish the younger ones good luck and prosperity. Songkran in Chiang Mai is one big water festival, people go out armed with waterguns, buckets, barrels or waterhoses and drench anyone passing them. Great fun. Apparently there is also a Miss Songkran competition…sorry I really don’t know anything about that ..