Songkran in All Regions of Thailand: A Celebration of Diversity and Thai Identity

By Contributing Writer

Songkran is one of the most important holidays in Thailand. In addition to being a long national holiday, it also marks the transition from the past year to the new year —symbolizing a fresh start. Traditionally celebrated as the Thai New Year, Songkran is recognized globally for its joyful water splashing, a fun way to cool down during the hottest time of the year. While Thailand is most associated with this celebration, neighboring countries like Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia also observe similar festivals, each with its own cultural twist.

This article explores how the Songkran Festival is celebrated across Thailand’s four regions—Central, Southern, Northern, and Northeastern. Although the core spirit of Songkran is shared across the country, each region has developed unique customs, ceremonies, and even names for the various days of the festival, all deeply rooted in their local traditions, beliefs, and ways of life.

Songkran in Central Thailand

In the central region, Songkran is primarily focused on religious and family-oriented activities. Common practices include bathing Buddha statues, making merit, attending temple sermons, and showing respect to elders in the family. One of the most charming traditions is the building of sand pagodas at local temples. This act symbolizes the return of dust and soil brought out of the temple on one’s feet throughout the year, and it serves to strengthen community bonds.

Key Songkran Traditions in Central Thailand:

• Rod Nam Dam Hua Ceremony – A respectful tradition in which younger family members pour water over the hands of elders to ask for forgiveness and blessings.

• The building of sand pagodas at local temples to strengthen community bonds.

Songkran in Southern Thailand

In the South, people believe that Songkran marks as the changing of city guardian angels or celestial protectors. The focus is placed on cleanliness and purification: cleaning homes, bathing, and changing into fresh clothing are all seen as ways to remove misfortunes and bad luck from the past year.

Unique Southern Traditions:

• Bin Cha Ceremony – Elders are bathed with fragrant water and offered fresh clothing to show respect and bring blessings.

• Sending Off the Old City Angel – Symbolic parades mark the farewell of the old guardian angel and welcome the new. People participate in rituals like releasing bad luck via symbolic rafts or floating objects.

• Robing the Buddha (Hom Phra) – A large merit-making activity where devotees offer robes to Buddha images, believed to generate great spiritual rewards.

 Songkran in Northern Thailand

In the North, the festival is often associated with the cultural identity of the "Lanna" people. Locals traditionally believe that rivers may carry in bad luck or misfortune before the new year. Therefore, firecrackers are used to ward off evil spirits at the start of the celebration. People also bathe Buddha statues and show respect to parents and elders.

Songkran Practices in Northern Thailand:

• Bathing Buddha Statues with Scented Water – This practice reflects Northern Thailand’s unique use of floral-scented water and perfumes during Songkran.

• Parades to Ward Off  Evil – These processions feature firecrackers and symbolic acts to drive out negativity and welcome good fortune.

Songkran in Northeastern Thailand (Isan)

In the Isan region, Songkran emphasizes family reunions and community ties. Families often travel home to reconnect, and one of the most meaningful customs is the Bai Sri Su Kwan ceremony, which blesses children and grandchildren. Like in other regions, locals clean Buddha images and attend religious services at temples. A key feature of Songkran in Isan is the Rod Nam Dam Hua ceremony, where younger people pour water over the hands of elders to express gratitude and ask for blessings.

In some provinces, a parade of Buddha statues is held, allowing the public to perform ceremonial bathing along the route—a gesture of reverence and a way to bring good fortune for the Thai New Year.