The Thai New Year (Thai: สงกรานต์ Songkran, from Sanskrit sankrānti "astrological passage"; Chinese: 潑水節) is celebrated every year from April 13 to April 15. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia. The date of the festival was originally set by astrological calculation, but it is now fixed. If these days fall on a weekend, the missed days off are taken on the weekdays immediately following. If they fall in the middle of the week, many Thai take off from the previous Friday until the following Monday. Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season.
Songkran this year fall on Mon to Wed and the festivities started on Sat, 11 April. By 12 April, it was impossible for us to get anywhere on our bike without getting wet.This is a good picture to explain what & how it happens. Score of people, both locals & foreigners standing at the roadside, with their weapon of choice, e
g. buckets, waterguns, pails, baby powder etc,getting ready to splash whoever passby in their cars, bikes, pick-up, tuk tuk and on foot.
Nobody is spare.
Those trucks on the road have their own supply of water on board so that they don't miss out on the fun. Young and old join in the
festival, it is a family affair.
Me and my weapon of choice, winnie the pooh water backpack... Didn't manage to take a picture of after the battle but it was pathetic ... :( but loads of fun.
Once in a lifetime experience !!
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