Songkran is Thai New Year celebration and known to foreigner as "water festival" which runs official from 13-15 April of every year. It's supposed to be the hottest month in April in Thailand, so it's a perfect wet holiday that everyone can enjoy.

          Songkran is known the worldover for its characteristic tradition of water-throwing ranging from a courteous sprinkle or a polite splash, to harmless water pistols and showers from garden hoses to the well-aimed bucket or water cannon. (want a better ideas of songkran water throwing click here). Songkran delivered in a festive spirit without a doubt, on the practical side, Songkran is a refreshing solution to "beating the heat" in the hottest season of the year.

"Songkran" is a word from the Sanskrit language, which means to "move into" and refers to the position of the sun as it enters Aries. It marks the end of a 12-month cycle and the beginning of a new solar year. Songkran is therefore a New Year celebration, even though the water fight seems to be the only thing people think of mostly about songkran. Who can blame them for this is the season you can give women wet T-shirt without getting smack!

The underlying significance of Songkran is the process of cleansing and purification - the purging of all ills, misfortune and evil and starting the New Year afresh with all that is good and pure. Water is symbolic of the cleaning process and signifies purity. If you ever walked around Songkran in Thailand nowadays, you may think, "it's a free season to be kids again" for beside endless water shower all day, there are dancing and partying on the street. You name it, we have it and you will see it.

There is also a much deeper significance to "Songkran". Apart from marking a new beginning, Songkran is also a time for thanksgiving. It is an important time for individuals to reflect upon the many acts of kindness and thoughtfulness each has personally experienced and to remember how such acts of generosity and compassion bring peace, happiness and well being. Songkran is also the time for reunions and family ties are renewed. The not so good part is that, this is the season most recorded for road accident and injury due to drinking. Thai people love to drink, so they drink at wedding, Songkran, wedding, birthday and funeral.

At the heart of each Thai custom and tradition, there is always a "raison d'etre" - a logical reason for its existence. The festive elements of the celebration itself, the cultural values, the social code of conduct and individual belief and practices are intertwined. It can be said that in essence, Songkran embodies the traditional Thai Cultural Values.

Despite fun water fight and traditional normal ceremonial that Thai people may have. Songkran is still the most fun celebration for Thai and Visitors of all ages.