Enjoy Songkran Festival from a luxury villa
Although Thais celebrate the western new year, the real party begins in April - Songkran - the traditional Thai new year and the largest collective celebration in the kingdom. It's a three day event. The Songkran festival is on the 13th of April, Maha Songkran Day, which ends the old year. April 14th is Wan Nao, and the 15th of April is Wan Thaloeng Sok which begins the New Year. Families come together during this time, often reuniting in rural areas. Bangkok becomes deserted, and Chiang Mai takes centre stage for the celebrations.
Referring not to the mass migration for family reunions, Songkran meaning “move” or “change place,” refers to the changes that the sun makes in its position in the zodiac. Often known as the “Water Festival,” you'll notice that this is a time when people like to get wet. The belief is that water washes away bad luck, and the practicality is that this is the hottest time of the year in Thailand, and so a full scale, country wide water fight is just the thing to cool everyone off.
The traditions of Songkran provide an important cornerstone for the Thai community, society and religions. In gathered families, young ones express their respect to elders by pouring scented water onto the hands of parents and grandparents and presenting them with unnecessary gifts such as dancing puppets and woolen tissue box warmers to add a lightness to the occasion. The elders in turn wish the youngsters good luck and prosperity, which are considered to be supreme values within the Thai family.
Songkran is also important for the community at large, with individuals coming together in the streets to enjoy the entertainments and playfully attack each other with water balloons, buckets and hoses. While similar festivals in South America have been banned for excessive use of force, the Thais have kept any negative emotions in check, and Songkran remains an ongoing and protected tradition. Together, communities clean house, offices and buildings as a paying of respect to the environment. The importance of acquisition is again centralized, as alms are given to monks, with Dhamma practice, and the sermon of listening to monks bathing.
After performing a morning bathing rite for Buddha images and the monks, the afternoon arrives, and the celebrants both young and old, joyfully splash water on each other. The most famous celebration takes place in the northern province of Chiang Mai where Songkran is celebrated from April 13 to 15. During this period, people from all parts of the country travel to enjoy the water festival, and to watch the Miss Songkran Contest and the beautiful parades.
Songkran Festival Accommodation
You can base yourself in a luxury Chiang Mai villa so as not to miss any of the spectacular and culturally arresting experiences this time of year brings. The event takes over the whole city, so browse for holiday villas that take your exact fancy. You can look for last minute deals and book now.
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