Songkran is Thailand’s most famous festival. An important event on the Buddhist calendar, this water festival marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year.
Songkran, the Thai water festival is about cleaning, purification, and having a fresh start. Houses are cleaned; Buddha statues are carried through the streets in a procession to be washed with flower-scented water. Elders are honored by respectfully pouring water over their hands.
Although the true Songkran tradition is to sprinkle water on people, travelers and locals alike don water cannons and buckets to take the "blessings" to another level! Dousing or sprinkling people with water signifies the washing away of bad thoughts and actions. It brings them good luck in the new year.
