Songkran Splashs & Traditions

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STORY
Splashs & Traditions
April is Thailand’s hottest month and marks the
transition between the end of the dry season and the start
of the rice-growing season. As such, Songkran Festival was
traditionally considered the beginning of the New Year. It is a
time to pay respect, let off steam and celebrate. That means
you can expect two very different kinds of events during
Songkran: crazy, country-wide water wars and serene
traditional ceremonies at temples.
SONGKRAN,
LOTS OF WATER SPLASHING:
13-15
April
Chiang Mai is the best place to join
the Songkran celebration, which is
the most celebrated of all the Thai
festivals.
From April 13th to 15th, 2017.
S
ongkran takes place over three days, during April
13th-15th, but in reality it lasts a week, especially in
the villages of northern Thailand, where children are
on holiday and want to play all day. Chiang Mai has a reputation
for being the most fun city during this water festival.
Bangkok’s parties may be the biggest and Pattaya’s are
the longest, but nowhere else sees as much water flying as
Chiang Mai, which makes it one of the most popular places
throughout Southeast Asia to visit in mid-April.
One of the reasons why Songkran in Chiang Mai is the
wettest is because the weapon of choice is not the water
gun, as in the other major cities, but the bucket, which ranges
in size from small sandcastle moulds to industrial-scale pails.
Chiang Mai also has a unique and easily available source of
water - the moat running around the old city.
The biggest party can be found at Thapae Gate on the
eastern side of the city. There, you will find several stages
set up and an open-air food market. This is also the scene of
special performances including the Miss Songkran Beauty
Pageant, Chiang Mai’s Walking Street Market and one of the
best places to see the procession of Phra Buddha Sihing to
Wat Phrasing. Even though the road is still open to traffic
around the moat, it is usually blocked with ravers and revellers.
If you would like to take a break, the heart of the old city is a
much quieter area, with less water players and lots of cafes
to rest.
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