Songkran Celebration Thoughout Thailand 🇹🇭

Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year festival since the former time. It is a celebration that embraces goodwill, love, compassion. and thankfulness, using water as the means of expression.

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The word Songkran derives from Sanskrit meaning to move or step forward. The first day of Songkran takes place when the sun moves from Pisces into Aries, which marks the New Year's Day according to the Brahmin solar system.

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The festival of Songkran falls on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of April every year. The first day is known as Maha Songkran or the grand Songkran. The Thai government has declared Songkran festival as extended public holidays to enable the people to return to their hometown for family reunions, merit-making and reuniting with others in their community.

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The 13th of April is also declared the Day of the Senior or Elderly by the government. The occasion marks the appreciation for the senior population for their years of contribution to the family and country.

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The 14th of April is designated as Family Day to celebrate family love and togetherness.

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In 2023, Songkran festival has been inscribed as the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from Thailand.

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Songkran is well known to people around the world as the festival of Thailand and has a strong influence to the neighbour country Cambodia. Cambodians recently copied and changed the name of their similar festival 'Choul Chnam Thmey' to 'Songkran' in 2020s to make it sounds like Thailand and also created seven Songkran ladies with the same look of Songkran ladies of Thailand.

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Credit: TAT Photograph Section, Thai Culture to the World