Songkran (Thailand)

Songkran is a festival and observation of the Thai New Year that takes place from April 13 to 15, or even longer in some regions of the nation. It is the largest and most significant festival in Thailand and has been observed for centuries. Its occurrence traditionally was determined by the Brahmin solar system. Songkran is a word of ancient Sanskrit that means “to step into,” “to pass into,” or “to enter,” and refers to the astrological passage of the sun from the sphere of Aries to that of Taurus. Songkran Festivals take place in other countries as well, including Myanmar (formerly Burma), Cambodia, and Laos each year. However, Songkran celebrated in Thailand was inscribed in 2023 on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Thai values universally celebrated during the Songkran Festival are family, religion, and society, but activities associated with the festival vary by region. Some common activities are cleaning homes and public buildings to achieve a fresh start in the new year, offering alms to monks, and sprinkling water onto monks and Buddha images. Water is an important element of the celebration and may be good-naturedly thrown at friends and family or sprinkled on elderly relatives to seek a blessing and show respect.

Background

Thailand has one of the highest populations of Buddhists in a country, with between 90 and 95 percent of its population adherents of the faith. Less than 1 percent of the population count themselves Hindus. Hinduism likely arrived in some areas before the first century CE and centuries later in other regions, as the continent’s cultures were exposed to others thanks to trade and conquest. Hinduism continued to exist alongside Buddhist beliefs that were adopted later. In modern times, Thailand’s shrines often incorporate elements of both faiths.

Songkran is believed to have originated as a Hindu spring festival associated with the start of the harvest season in India. Thailand is strongly influenced by Hinduism, although it is a Buddhist majority nation. The festival also has elements of Buddhism. A legend tells of the Hindu deity Kadilla Brahma, also known as Phra Phrom, who wanted to test the intelligence of a boy on earth. He challenged the child with a riddle, giving the boy seven days to solve it, or his head would be cut off. If the boy succeeded, the deity would cut off his own head. The boy puzzled over the riddle all week but, just before his time ran out, overheard two birds discussing the challenge. One bird told the other the solution, and when the boy heard it, he ran to the deity and recited it correctly. Brahma was forced to cut off his four-faced head, which he left with his seven daughters, who represent the days of the week. On New Year’s Day, the daughters took turns carrying his head on a tray around Mount Meru.

Asian cultures have much in common. For example, most have customs related to the veneration of ancestors and ancient traditions. Agriculture is another commonality that is ancient and of immense social and economic value, and for this reason, celebrations of harvest time are important. The harvest season coincides with the new year in March and April in these societies and also takes place during the dry season when crops cannot be planted, and the region is hot. Ancient traditions practiced at this time include prayers and offerings asking for rain, specifically a good monsoon season in many regions, as people look ahead to the next growing season and future crops needed to sustain families and communities. Due to the hot weather and prayers for rain, water festivals have been celebrated by pouring and splashing water. Beyond Thailand, countries that have similar festivals include India (Holi, which is more than two thousand years old), Myanmar (Feast of Thingyan), Laos (Boun Pi Mai), and Cambodia (Chaul Chnam Thmey).

The Songkran Festival has been celebrated in April for centuries but was tied to the solar calendar and, as a result, fell on different days every year. In more modern times, Thailand settled on April 15 as the start of the new year, based on the Gregorian calendar. Since the late twentieth century, the festival has taken place on April 13, 14, and 15 as an established public holiday. Celebrations in some communities can take place throughout the month of April.

Overview

People typically travel to see family for Songkran. It is a time to remember one’s ancestors and loved ones and to visit them if possible.

The first day of the festival is Maha Songkran, or the grand Songkran. This is a day to prepare for the new year, typically by cleaning the home, temple, or other places to sweep away any sadness and bad luck from the previous year. In Thailand, it is a national day to show appreciation and respect for senior citizens. An important ritual is Song Nam Phra, or the pouring of scented water onto Buddha images. The water is traditionally scented with Nam Ob and is poured onto the torso or limbs, not the head. Water may also be placed before the image in bowls with fragrant flowers. Water offerings in bowls may be made to monks and other people, such as older family members.

April 14 is Wan Nao, or the “middle day,” and is a day to celebrate the family. People prepare water scented with Nam Ob or rose and jasmine for a ceremony called Rot Nam Dam Hua. This involves washing parents’ feet and receiving blessings in return. Parents may give their children jasmine garlands with the blessing. People may visit a temple and make a Chedi Sai, or sand pagoda, as a spiritual offering. Sand is brought to the temples because of the belief that after Buddhists pay their respects at a temple, they inadvertently carry away a small amount of sand on their feet when they leave. The new year is a time to replace this sand. People also spend time on this day preparing for April 15, when they will give food and other offerings to monks and at temples. Another tradition is to release caged birds or release fish into waterways to bring good luck.

New Year’s Day, April 15, is Wan Payawan. The traditional start to the day is a visit to the local temple. People present clothing and food to the monks, who pray for them. If appropriate, other gifts may be donated, such as objects or materials to assist in the upkeep or restoration of the temples. Floral garlands are traditionally worn at Songkran. These garlands, called Phuang Malai, are usually made of three fragrant flowers: jasmine or dok mali, white champaca or dok champhi, and roses. People often give floral garlands to the older members of their family as an expression of love and respect.

People in some areas observe a fourth day, Wan Parg-bpee. This is a day to gently pour water over the hands or shoulders of an elder who offers blessings and wishes of good fortune.

Merit-making is central to the holiday. This describes the practices of giving, meditation, and virtuous actions. Giving can involve many activities, including making and offering food, but also public work such as helping to clean a school or temple. Making a sand pagoda at a temple is another form of merit-making. One can make merit by honoring one’s ancestors and elders. The public may have an opportunity to make merit at processions of Buddha statues through a neighborhood (for example, outside the National Museum in Bangkok). Some cities have parades with flower-strewn floats.

The public celebration of Songkran usually involves plenty of water. Squirting or dousing a person is a way to bless them for the upcoming year. Districts of Bangkok are closed to traffic as thousands of people douse others day and night. In areas where streets are open to traffic, people may throw buckets of water at cars, motorcycles, and trucks as they pass.

In modern times, dousing others with water may involve more than simply cups or buckets. Water pistol fights take place among friends and family or even strangers, and people fill water balloons to pelt one another. People are attracted to the exuberant water fights in the streets of towns and cities. They are also drawn to events such as water fights with elephants. These elephant events have emerged to promote tourism. The animals are painted with flowers and other designs and encouraged to spray water at people nearby.

Food has special importance during Songkran. Women traditionally prepare the recipes that have been handed down through generations and share these with younger relatives to ensure the traditions are continued. Cooking recipes learned from older generations is another way people remember their ancestors. Families prepare feasts that are shared with family and friends. Some of this food may be given to Buddhist monks.

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