Sawasdee pi mai – The four days of Songkran 2024
Despite the annual celebrations, water fights and parties being mostly side-lined this year, Songkran goes on for 2024, albeit in a much-subdued form. Many Thais have decided not to head home, but others have already headed out of the city centres to their homes to be with their families.
The best we can do for Songkran 2021 is be happy, smile at our Thai hosts on their special day, buy an outrageously colourful Songkran shirt from a road vendor and say Sawasdee Pi Mai to everyone we meet. Let’s do our best to add a few smiles to Thai New Year 2024.
Original traditions for the Thai New Year celebrations…
April 13 – Wan Sangkhan Lohng
On this day residents clean their houses in preparation of the New Year’s festivities. Many provinces have street parades and gatherings at temples or get-togethers at relative’s homes.
April 14 – Wan Nao
In preparation for the Buddhist celebratory merry-making the following day during Songkran, people spend this day preparing cooked meals and preserved cuisine. Buckets of sand were commonly collected and brought into the temples to construct sand chedis, or sand shrines that are then decorated.
April 15 – Wan Payawan
As the first day of the New Year, people would gather in the early morning at the wat to offer the food prepared the previous day along with new robes, fruit and other goods to the temple monks. In the past, this was the day where subdued water play began.
April 16 – Wan Paak Bpee
On the last day of Songkran, people paid their respects to their forebears and poured scented water over the hands of their elders who would then bless those taking part in the celebratory tradition known as rod ‘naam daam hua’.
Songkran is one of the most exciting festivals in Thailand; however, you can check out some tips for staying in Thailand during Songkran.
If you are still confused about where to have a good rest in Bangkok during Songkran, you can visit our partner Agoda’s website.
