Chiang Mai Festivals & Events

Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year. The festival offers not only the fun water throwing but also many other interesting activities. Songkran is without doubt the most popular of all Thai festivals. It marks the beginning of a new astrological year and its exact dates are determined by the old lunar calendar of Siam. The Songkran Festival 2010 falls on 13 to 15 April.

While the festival has its roots in Buddhist heritage, the washing of Buddha images, merit making, traditional family values and the sprinkling of water in respect for elders, it is best known for the fun and “sanuk” everyone gains from splashing copious quantities of water on all who happen to pass by.

Loi Krathong is traditionally performed on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, which usually falls on some day in November. The floating of a ‘Krathong’ – a banana–leaf cup – is intended to float away ill fortune as well as to express apologies to Khongkha or Ganga, the River Goddess. Some believe that the ritual is meant to worship the Buddha’s footprint on the bank of the Narmada River, while others say that it is to pay respect to Phra Uppakhut, one of the Lord Buddha’s great disciples.

The Loi Krathong Festival is celebrated nationwide in Thailand, especially where there are rivers, canals or sources of water, with different unique characteristics.