Songkran

Three days of renewal

Songkran traditionally spans three distinct days on the solar calendar. The first, Maha Songkran on 13 April, signals the end of the previous year as the sun enters the first zodiac sign. The following day, Wan Nao, serves as an intermediate transition. Celebrations conclude on 15 April with Wan Thaloeng Sok, the formal dawn of the new era. In earlier times, royal astrologers calculated the precise moment using astronomical texts, issuing royal proclamations about rainfall, farming, and state affairs for the upcoming cycle.

Temple rites and blessings

Spiritual customs stand at the centre of the observance. Devotees visit local monasteries to make merit and wash sacred Buddha statues with clean water. At temple grounds, people gather to construct small pagodas out of sand, known as sand stupas. Within families, younger generations take part in the Rot Nam Dam Hua rite by gently pouring scented water onto the hands of parents and elders. This gesture shows deep respect, asks for forgiveness, and receives blessings of good fortune for the year ahead.

Water fights and streets

Beyond domestic and temple ceremonies, Songkran is famous for immense water fights across Thai villages and cities. People take to roads and public squares equipped with buckets, hoses, and water containers to drench friends and passersby. Face smearing with smooth white powder often accompanies the splashing. Although now an energetic public event enjoyed by local communities and international travellers alike, the dousing stems from symbolic washing to wash away bad fortune, welcome spring, and foster communal harmony.

How Songkran is kept

Families prepare by cleaning homes and travelling back to their hometowns. Celebrations begin at Buddhist temples, where people pour water over Buddha images and shape sand into stupas. Relatives gather to perform the Rot Nam Dam Hua ritual, pouring water over the hands of senior family members to seek their blessings. Across towns and cities, people gather in streets to splash water on one another and apply white powder to faces, turning purification into a joyful public festival.

When and where

Songkran is observed each year from 13 to 15 April, marking the sun's passage into Aries. Historically calculated through traditional Thai astronomy, the official public holiday now spans these fixed dates, with the government occasionally adding extra travel days.

The festival is celebrated across Thailand, in cities such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Uttaradit, as well as rural communities. Festivities take place at home, inside Buddhist temple compounds, and along major public streets.

What Songkran means

Songkran signifies renewal, moral duty, and the rebirth of nature. Flowing water represents ritual cleansing, washing away misfortunes from the past year to begin anew. Honouring elders and monks reinforces respect and merit-making, while Buddhist lore connects the season's arrival with spring, rain, and the ethical renewal of society.

Songkran dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

Questions people ask about Songkran

See also

Thai solar calendarThe official solar calendar of Thailand, numbered in the Buddhist EraIkatA resist-dyeing craft from Southeast Asia, where yarns are tied and dyed before weavingBaciA Lao rite that calls the soul home and ties a thread on the wrist for good luckCoronation of the Thai monarchA consecration ceremony blending Hindu and Buddhist rites to formally install the King of Thailand.

Good reading and sources

• Songkran in Thailand, traditional Thai New Year festivalUNESCO, Heritage listing
• Songkran in Thailand, traditional Thai New Year festivalUNESCO, Article

• Songkran (Thailand) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.