Songkran

Songkran is the biggest festival in Thailand, it is considered as the Thai traditional new year. During this time, people go home to their families. There are several activities for each day like going to the temple, making sand pagodas and releasing birds or fish.

It is a festival where in people do good things and do some merit to cleanse themselves from the past year and to ask blessings for the next year. Water is a big part of this occasion, traditionally, younger people pour scented water onto the hands of the elderly to ask forgiveness and blessings. In return the elderly would pour water to the younger people to give their blessings for a a good start. It is a beautiful and genuine culture that may have been lost for some areas. Nowadays splashing water to each other with buckets and water guns is done for fun and entertainment. There are thousands of foreigners that joins the festival and more likely they are not aware of the significance of such event.

It is amazing to see how rich the Thai culture is and hopefully it won't lose its essence and meaning. Let the traditions unfold the importance of such events.

Moreover, you can celebrate Songkran in different ways, if you are more of the active activities, then Chiang Mai or Bangkok would be a good place. But if you intend to enjoy with relaxation going to the provinces would be better like going to Chiang Rai where in splashing of water is more toned down.