Songkran in Koh Phangan
Songkran in Koh Phangan is celebrated as a national holiday on April 13. But around the rest of Thailand, Songkran will be celebrated from 13 April till 15 April. Some parts of Thailand, especially in the northern city of Chiang Mai, Songkran is celebrated for as long as a week.
Songkran, or Thai New Year, is a Buddhist festival and the kingdom’s most important public holiday. The word Songkran is derived from Sanskrit and means “Astrological Passage”. Traditionally, the dates for the festival were set by Brahmin priests, but these days the dates are fixed.
Songkran marks the end of the dry season – April is Thailand’s hottest month – and the beginning of the annual rains in the fifth month of the Thai lunar year. Many Thais visit their local temple to pray and to wash their Buddha icons. Buddhist statues on house shrines are also cleaned. This cleansing ritual is to bring luck and prosperity for the coming year.
What to Expect With Songkran in Koh Phangan
Nowadays, the throwing of water is the festival’s highlight. In fact, for the whole day, Koh Phangan turns into a celebratory war zone. Children with huge water guns roam the streets or sit in the back of their parents’ pick-up trucks, which are loaded with buckets of water that is dispensed on anyone who happens to be within reach.
White talc is also thrown in copious amounts and the islands streets soon resemble the aftermath of a snow storm – especially in Thongsala and Haad Rin. The only down side to the exuberant festivities is the number of traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers and idiots throwing large buckets of water at people riding motorbikes. It’s really not a good idea to be out riding your motorbike on this day!
Embrace the Shenanigans
Foreign visitors have but one option during Songkran in Koh Phangan – embrace, embrace, embrace. Tourists are special targets during the festivities and young Thais will make an extra effort to pour ice cold water down the back of your shirt if they see you pass by. The market area of Thongsala is the place to be for all out street fights with thousands of Thais and foreigners armed with water guns and cans of beer, battling both the heat and each other.
As it’s hot, and clothes are likely to get ruined by sustained water and talc attacks, it’s advisable to wear as little as possible and to leave precious items of clothing in one’s luggage – your swim wear is all you will need. keep your phone and camera fully clothed though – without a waterproof housing, it’s likely to fall victim to the watery shenanigans.
We hope you have a fun day at Songkran in Koh Phangan! Have you been on Koh Phangan during Songkran? What did you think about it? Leave your comments below!