Songkran or “Water Festival” starts officially on 13 April in Thailand, where it has developed into a tourist attraction. However, Songkran is much more than just a Thai festival. It has a history without borders in continental Southeast Asia and beyond.
The festival is common throughout mainland Southeast Asia, having different names such as Peemai (new year) Songkran in Laos, Songkran or Peemai (new year) in Thai, Chaul Chnam Khmer or Moha Sangkranta in Cambodia, and Thingyan in Myanmar.
In Thailand, the festival originated from a belief that water will wash away bad thoughts and actions of the old year and bring good luck in the new year. Traditionally, people clean their houses and wash the Buddhist statues with flower-scented water. Meanwhile, the young should pay their respect to the elderly by respectfully pouring water over their hands.
Cambodian New Year is also the same day as Songkran Day in Thailand. It is called ‘Chaul Chnam Thmey’ meaning to enter the new year and it is also marked as the end of the harvest seasons. The rituals and activities of the Songkran festival in Cambodia are similar to Thailand’s which are making merit, forming sand pagodas, sprinkling scented water on the Buddha, and enjoying folk plays.
New Year’s Day in Laos is called ‘Kut Songkran’ and is held from 14-16 April. The cultural activities will be similar to the North of Thailand, but Songkran in Laos is also popular among foreign travelers, especially in tourist towns like Luang Prabang.
Most Malaysians are Muslims, but Buddhists (about 19% of the population) still give importance to traditions like Songkran. Especially in the northern part of the country, a thousand Buddhists celebrate this event from 12-14 April every year.
Songkran in Myanmar is celebrated in the second week of April. The month is the first month of Myanmar’s calendar which is called ‘TAGU’ (March-April), marking the arrival of Spring. Burmese call Songkran ‘Yebavaedor’ (‘ye’ means water and ‘bavaedor’ means festival).
As in Thailand, throughout the 5 days of celebration, people will splash water joyfully to wash away the bad luck and misfortune of the previous year, entering the New Year cleansed from the past.
Happy Songkran!
