Songkran Festival Chiang Mai

Songkran Festival Chiang Mai

Songkran Festival marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year. One of the most religiously important festivals in Chiang Mai, Songkran Festival is celebrated when the Sun moves out of Pisces constellation.

Held in mid-April, Songkran Festival is basically a water festival that is celebrated over a three-day period. According to the custom, the first day of this fest is on April 13th, which is also the last day of the old year.

At dawn, people let off firecrackers and decorate their houses. During afternoon, devotees organize a parade wherein they carry Buddha images from the temples of Chiang Mai to the nearby railway station. In the midst of this procession, people sprinkle scented water to bathe these images as they pass through streets.

This parade of Songkran Festival then halts at the Wat Phra Singh, where the Phra Sihing image of Buddha is placed in front of the temple. Here, citizens can bathe throughout the festival.

During the second day of the Songkran Festival, no ceremonies are held. The New Year begins of Day Three of this festival. Devotees throng temples early in the morning to avoid rush. Dressed in traditional costumes, these people bring offerings along with them.

In the temple complex, devotees place flags in the sand, and sticks of support under Bo trees. This is meant to bring new fortune in the coming year. Songkran Festival involves a ceremony called Tam Hua. By the evening, younger members of the family pay respects to elders.

Water throwing is the main attraction of Songkran Festival in Chiang Mai. Thousands of revelers line up along the moats, armed with buckets, water sprays, pistols, and all other things that can help them throw water at devotees. Temporary water pumps are also installed to suck water from moats for people to spray.

During Songkran Festival, other than the monks and aged people, almost everyone in the city is drenched. It is almost impossible to stay dry during the period of this festival.

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