Today I attended an enchanting event - all of Thailand, including Phuket, began to celebrate the Thai New Year, whose name is Songkran(Songkran). Translated, this means “transition”, and thus marks the transition to the new year according to ancient Indian astrological calendar and the change from the current hot season to the upcoming rainy season. That is why it is customary to pour water on everyone on this day, it is like a call for abundant rainfall later so that there is a good rice harvest. But how does this all happen!
What is going on here is simply beyond words!!! General insanity, but from a good point of view! It’s a pity, it’s very difficult to photograph this madness, sorry for the quality of the photo, I had to wrap the camera in cling film and save it from the water in every possible way.
Thais and farangs, like little children, squealing and laughing, pour water on each other, using whatever they can, and cover each other with talcum powder! Along the roads near Rawai Beach in Phuket, for example, huge barrels of water are placed, a cheerful group gathers around them, who, dancing and shouting, desperately water everyone passing with ladles, buckets and water pistols, for which they are always richly thanked with a good portion of water in return.
Pickup trucks with large tanks in the back drive along the roads, from where numerous wet and happy passengers draw water and spray everyone in their path. Often dye is added to this water and, what is most unexpected, when they pour it on you - ice! When you are repeatedly doused with just warm water, suddenly receiving a portion of an ice ladle is, to put it mildly, an unexpected positive shock! But due to the intense heat and increased mobility on this day, you don’t have time to either freeze or feel like water is running off you in streams all day.
Attack from a pickup truck
It's funny that before this tradition was a little different, they simply walked along the streets with a bowl and modestly splashed a little on each passerby. Everything progresses and develops, as practice shows.
It is believed that all these outpourings cleanse the soul and give the person doused good luck for the whole next year!
Many Thais have chosen a different strategy and smear the faces of everyone they meet with fragrant talcum powder, which then causes a slight chill to be felt on their cheeks. These daubers themselves are almost half covered in this talcum powder, from head to waist. This custom also has an explanation - talc (and previously it was White clay) is used as a means of hygiene, and ritual smearing and sprinkling with talc is a cleansing and repelling of all kinds of dirt.
Here they are - those same talcum powder smearers!
And the cutest thing about all this fun is that when pouring water down your collar or covering you with talcum powder, Thais smile so sincerely and often ask for forgiveness or wish Happy Songkran!
Slightly or not slightly tipsy farangs take an active part in the celebration, dancing killerly to the music. Their main difference is that they do not pour water as carefully as the Thais, but hit it right in the face, which is not always liked by bikers passing by - it is so easy to lose control.
In general, this is a dangerous action. We saw one injured Thai who, apparently, after another portion of water, lost control and crashed into a car. Thank God he’s alive, but he was seriously injured.
I did it simpler, next to each of these dousing points, I stopped and with mutual joy, mine and theirs, I let all the prepared water be poured on myself and put my cheeks for talcum powder, and then with a calm soul I drove to the next point for receiving water procedures.
And now we know that water pistols are bullshit! Thin streams are not scary! And the cool one is the one with the bucket! :)
In general, I was surprised to note that not all Thais are amused by this, and there are individuals who travel with sour or even dissatisfied faces, which is surprising. But there are not many of them.
Dissatisfied Thais are rare
Sometimes this dissatisfaction is understandable
Thai New Year It is not celebrated for 10 days, like ours, but only three (from April 12), and the new year itself begins on April 15, and watering usually lasts from April 13 to 15, but in some places they can last until 17 or even 19 April. This, by the way, needs to be kept in mind when you, no longer suspecting anything, leave the house with unprotected documents or wallet.
I returned home only in the evening, wet, smeared with talc and receiving a killer dose of positivity! This is what I understand - a holiday! Happy New Year everyone! Sawat di Songkran! ?????????????!
Replenishment of supplies - that’s what they doused him with
P.S. Article from Phuket Songkran 2011 :) Not much has changed since then.
“Why don’t they water us? Where is the holiday? I want fun! “Olya was very worried that she wouldn’t be doused with water from head to toe, preferably a hundred times. It’s a holiday, Songkran, and we drove all over Jomtien and only got a bucket of water. It's a shame! Maybe Pattaya doesn't celebrate Songkran?
They celebrate, just as they celebrate. There was about a kilometer left before the water madness...
“Nothing, all hope is on the Arabs! I was informed that in the Arab quarter of Pattaya they really like to water down motorcyclists. “Right in the face,” I reassured Olya on the way to the city center.
Rinse off before you get wet!
Oh, by the way: this year it was already our third New Year! Read reports about the previous two here:
And if the Balinese New Year is the most terrible in the world, then thai new year- the most fun in the world! Songkran started for us on April 17th. Actually Thai New Year in Pattaya Celebrations begin on April 13 and are celebrated for a week. The fun is growing, so the most interesting thing happens on the 19th. Therefore, we decided not to waste our time on trifles, but to save the last three, most fun days for dessert!
While we are still dry, I will briefly tell you what it is Songkran holiday. The word "songkran" in Sanskrit means "transition", in this case - the beginning of a new year according to the ancient Indian calendar and the change of seasons (from the hot season to in Thailand). That's why everyone pours water on each other so that heavenly office She also didn’t skimp on rainfall: the more rain, the richer the rice harvest. And water also washes away all the bad things that have accumulated over the past year. For the same purpose, these days Thais and their guests smear each other with talcum powder and clay. Smear for cleansing? And no one promised that everything would be logical!!))
Songkran, Thai New Year: the only holiday when you can shoot a person in the back...
...and get a response from him!
Songkran 2019(and 2020, 2021 etc.) in Pattaya, Bangkok and Phuket they begin to celebrate on April 13, in Chiang Mai - from the 11th. I first joined Songkran in Thailand April 15th: when I was riding to the store on a motorcycle, I was shot with a water pistol by children hiding by the road. The next day I was doused four times already (including by the security guards of our condominium). And on the 17th we jumped on a motorcycle and went to the center of Pattaya in search of New Year's adventures! The water gun, bought the day before, was left at home on the first day... But only on the first day.
Don't let yourself dry out!
Thai New Year waylaid us at the Jomtien complex - the most famous gay reservation in Pattaya. We don’t know what orientation those people were, but they jumped up to us with full basins of ice water and a second later all three of us - me, Olya and the motorcycle - were wet to the skin! By the way, we were doused there for two days in a row. And then we no longer had any doubts about the inclinations of these young people 😉
Songkran, Thai New Year, in Pattaya: get it, nasty!
And if sexual minorities are waiting for passers-by, drivers and passengers in Jomtien, then in the center of Pattaya there are cunning guests from the Middle East and sunny India. Arabs and Indians lined up along the road and poured water on everyone, recharging from huge barrels; the Thais fired back from the backs of trucks filled with huge jugs of “ammunition”... Songkran It's declared open, ladies and gentlemen!
And while in the area of the Muslim quarter passersby were being harassed by armed Arab, Indian and Turkish formations, on Beach Road armed Thai and European formations were already ruling the roost. It’s simple: there are barrels along the road, next to them there is a crowd of people who are firing at all passers-by and passers-by. Sawatdee Songkran, comrade! And nothing will save you: they will soak you, even in the toilet, even in the tavern! Although it is believed that people sitting in a cafe should not get wet. But not everyone knows about this: water - so water! Do you think that if you are chatting on your cell phone or carrying an expensive Canon 5D Mark II around your neck, this will save you? On the contrary, they will pour on you with redoubled energy! Because it doesn't matter. Therefore on thai new year photographers (myself included) wrapped their equipment in cellophane and shot almost blindly. What happened is what happened: don’t shoot the photographer, he takes pictures as Songkran allows!
Songkran (Thai New Year) in Pattaya: the mochilo continues!
Particular attention to motorcyclists: every Songkran warrior considers it his sacred duty to shoot them mercilessly. They use all types of weapons, including buckets and basins. True, some passengers do not remain in debt, furiously shooting back with rifles, pistols and bottles. Like Olya, for example: while I skillfully maneuvered between cars and bikes, she managed not only to shoot back, but also to conduct aimed fire at the enemy! It’s a special pleasure to catch up with a biker and shoot him, unsuspectingly - first in the back, then in the side and then in the forehead!
Songkran (Thai New Year) in Pattaya: killing minibus passengers is a special pleasure! They, the poor fellows, get it from all types of weapons, including long-range ones...
...but they are being killed hand-to-hand - an indescribable feeling!
But the bravest passengers return fire! And they take this very seriously, judging by the expression on the face of this Chinese tourist))
Now take a break from Songkran for a second and imagine a girl putting on lipstick before going to work. She paints and paints, and suddenly, out of the corner of her eye in the mirror, she notices a mouse sitting on her shoulder... Can you imagine? So, multiply the strength of her squeal by a hundred - such noise can be heard on all the streets of Pattaya in thai new year!
Songkran (Thai New Year) in Pattaya: a shot of water by the collar activates the squeal reflex.
But let's return to the field of water battle of all against all. “Ammunition”—huge containers filled with water—is displayed by local bars at their entrances. So that everyone can recharge with some water outside and beer inside. Particularly “charged” Thai women, out of habit, organize dances on anything that resembles a platform - refrigerators, display cases, chairs... Well, and wet T-shirt competitions (after all, there were no dry T-shirts here in principle). But even this did not save the girls, who continued to be mercilessly wet.
Songkran, Thai New Year, in Pattaya: the girls are dancing interestingly!
But no matter how interesting the girls dance, they are still wetted by all and sundry.
What would Songkran be without a wet T-shirt competition!
The female audience of our site will be indignant: why do you only publish half-naked girls? So, dear ladies, especially for you in the next photo - half naked guys!
Uh-uh... Maybe girls are better after all?)))
P.S.: they were the ones who poured water on us near Jomtien, the naughty ones!
But the main danger is Songkran- not Turks, not Arabs, and not even Thais, armed with giant sprinklers. Songkran has other dangers. And there are three of them.
The main dangers of Songkran
The first is children. It’s them, not the Arabs, who purposely aim at your face. One kept trying to shoot my eyes out with his pistol. At first I fired a gun at his stomach, showing him how to behave... And he - in the face and in the face. We had to show him the full power of our weapons! By the way, I gave our gun the formidable name “I’ll kill everyone!” The guy then only secretly fired at the back of my head and did not engage in open combat. At least alone))
Songkran, Thai New Year: and all for one!
Second danger of Songkran- these are people who smear clay and talc too hard on you. They desire your cleansing so much that clay often gets into your eyes. It hurts. But under no circumstances should you be offended - with such friendliness, with such an expression of happiness on their faces, they pour liquid clay into your eyes that you can’t help but rejoice at it!
And the third danger of Songkran- drunk drivers. Thais are not fools to drink on ordinary days, and even more so on New Year’s Day. Therefore, according to statistics, the week of Songkran is the most dangerous week of the year in Thailand.
Due to drinking or fatigue (and most likely, both) in the evening last day Songkran that the Thais, that their comrades and rivals in water battles are absolutely nothing. Yes, we ourselves were in the same state by the end of the third day of continuous battle. Somehow we got home on a choking motorcycle (because there was water in it up to the carburetor, and much less gasoline), we collapsed to rest. You know how it happens - tired, but happy. This is about us! And about all those who cheerfully celebrated these days Songkran, and not hiding in the bar with a dissatisfied look, cursing the drops of water that flew from all sides and tried to dilute the coveted beer.
...Songkran flew away, but promised to return. So if you haven't had time to mark thai new year, dont be upset. Thailand is waiting for you in a year. Although why in a year - he is always waiting for you! After all, Thailand is an eternal holiday.
Either the capital or the village: why we don’t like Laos
BY THE WAY
What date is Songkran celebrated in 2019?
Songkran 2019 in Pattaya, Phuket, Bangkok and other cities of Thailand will be celebrated from April 13 to 19.
The most fun holiday in the world - this is what everyone who was lucky enough to celebrate the Thai New Year says. Songkran is the name of the New Year in Thai, the time when the Sun moves from the constellation Pisces to the constellation Aries, and one astrological year follows another.
The question of what date is the Thai New Year in 2019 is of interest to many who are planning to visit this wonderful country and who has heard about the wild fun that accompanies the holiday. Despite the fact that the Thai calendar is based on the lunar cycle, Songkran is celebrated at the same time every year - from 13 to 15 April (in some regions on the 17th or even 19th).
Thai New Year 2019 is celebrated from Saturday 13 April to Monday 15 April inclusive.
So if you want to spend an unforgettable weekend, be sure to go to Thailand!
Songkran: the meaning of the holiday
Songkran came to Thailand from India - with the expansion of trade routes, Indian culture spread to the vast territory of the Indochina Peninsula, and today the New Year in April is celebrated not only in Thailand, but also in its neighboring countries. The word “songkran” itself means “movement”, “transition” in Sanskrit, that is, the change of seasons. The luminary passes a full circle and the moment of its movement to a new turn was called Songkran, becoming a holiday.
As you know, in Thailand there are not four, but only three seasons - the hot season, the rainy season and the cold season. The holiday symbolizes the end of the hot season and the arrival of the long-awaited rains, which should bring with them a good rice harvest. The prosperity of the entire country and each of its inhabitants has long depended on the harvest, because rice crops in these places have been life-giving for many centuries. And the more water is spilled on this day, the faster the rains will come, the richer the harvest will be, the higher the prosperity. This is how the tradition of pouring water on the streets of Thai cities appeared.
The tradition of pouring water has another, sacred meaning. Water flowing from the head and body washes away all negativity - illnesses, evil eyes, bad thoughts. It is necessary to enter the New Year clean - both figuratively and actually, and water takes away with it all the dirt, both physical and spiritual.
Water Festival
Dousing water during Songkran is not only necessary, but also extremely fun. Today tourists come specifically to take part in this water madness. Water flows everywhere - on the streets and alleys, along the roads there are huge barrels, from where everyone can draw water and douse those passing by. Pickup trucks with the same barrels installed in their bodies roll along the streets and spray water on passers-by and road users in response.
Are you traveling to Thailand in April? Take a water pistol with you - without it you will have a hard time on this fun holiday. When leaving the hotel, remember: you need to dress in something light and non-fading - you will definitely return to your room wet to the last thread. And yes, don’t forget to put your documents and phone in a waterproof bag so you don’t regret the irreparable later.
Wash away the dirt
Another sign of Songkran is talc and clay. Clay is a natural absorbent, and its ability to repel dirt has been noticed a long time ago. Clay powder was used both as a kind of soap and as a deodorant. Talc has become a modern analogue of clay - the Thais use it in large quantities V Everyday life, and even larger ones - during the days of Songkran. On a holiday, along with water, you can also receive a portion of clay or talc - all for the same purpose, to make you cleaner.
Buddhist traditions of Songkran
Still, dousing with water is more fun. Real Songgran is a celebration of respect and expression of love. Thais value family very much, and therefore consider it extremely important to get everyone together to celebrate the New Year.
Songkran begins early in the morning when the whole family goes to the temple at dawn. Along with the usual alms, Thais bring sweets prepared specially for the holiday and wrapped in palm leaves. In cities and towns, Buddhist monks gather in designated places, where residents bring alms, most often some special dishes, as a sign of respect for them as conductors of the Buddha’s teachings. In response, the monks bless all those who come.
The second stage of the family celebration is the ceremony of washing the Buddha figurine, which is in every home. The figurine is poured with fragrant water, seasoned with flower petals, from small bowls. Then, from the same bowls, young family members pour water into the hands of the elders - as a sign of respect for the wisdom of the elders.
Well, the third stage of the celebration is a feast and long, leisurely conversations, sometimes stretching until late in the evening. The Thai New Year 2019 ends with a prayer for departed relatives and ancestors.
Look video about Pattaya. Songkran - Thai New Year:
Did you know that New Year in Thailand is celebrated three times a year? New Year, from December 31 to January 1, is a Western-style holiday that is celebrated with great pleasure in Thailand.
This is despite the fact that Thais celebrate Chinese New Year at the end of January or beginning of February.
And in April, when spring comes in Russia, Thailand celebrates its own Thai New Year - Songkran. Officially, Songkran is celebrated in Thailand from April 11 to April 18, but the date of celebration varies in individual cities - the Thai New Year festival moves across provinces from the north to the south of the country. Thais take to the streets with a couple of buckets of water and the words “Sawasdee pi mai!” (Happy New Year!) They spray everyone they meet and paint each other with talcum powder. Water, symbolizing the essence of all living things, is sprinkled everywhere; it should bring grace to everyone gifted with the blessed moisture.
If a smiling Thai man pours water on your back and shoulders, it means he wishes you happiness.
However, this holiday is not limited to the tradition of pouring water. Historically, Songkran is a holiday of love and respect, a day that Thais strive to celebrate with the whole family. The morning of Songkran begins with a trip to the temple, where the monks are presented with delicious homemade treats prepared in advance, thereby emphasizing their respect for them as teachers and mentors.
After returning from the temple, it’s time for the second part of the New Year’s ceremony - washing the family Buddha statue with clean water with rose and jasmine petals. Water is then poured on their hands as a sign of respect to the elder members of the family. After this ceremony the family sits down to festive table to enjoy your holiday meal.
During the festival, any type of transport becomes a way to have extra fun. For example, Thais love to perch big company for one pickup truck and drive around the neighborhood, spraying water on everything and everyone.
Another no less fun way is to stand with bottles and other containers full of water at the door of your house and water those passing by yourself. It's no secret that the water can be iced, or very cold. Be ready!
Buckets, tanks, hoses, cold water, mischievous children and frisky old men with water pistols - this is what awaits you these days. Holidays in Thailand during these holidays can be described in two words: wet and very wet!
Water, water and more water! It will overtake you everywhere, even in public transport. Just like talc (luckily, you will be sprinkled and smeared).
Considering high temperatures, you will, of course, dry quickly. But for how long? Around a new turn, you will be pressed adorable baby, with a smile, a bucket of water and wishes of happiness! Be ready! Happy New Year!
The atmosphere is simply amazing and completely unique - such general joy, euphoria, fun and complete excitement! Now I know exactly how to return to childhood - April 11 to April 18 of any year in Thailand... it's very simple!
Finally, a few recommendations for those who are planning to come to Thailand for this mega-event. Equip yourself correctly, namely, wear what you were going to throw away. You should wear a cap with a visor on your head, and a T-shirt with sleeves if you don’t want to get burned. No sunscreen will help - don’t even expect that you will be doused only once and lightly, and only slightly smeared in some places. Girls, you don’t need makeup - even the most waterproof mascara will not last this day, and it will be difficult to see your face behind a layer of white. It is advisable to have a camera with a waterproof case, otherwise it may not survive until the evening.
"Happy Thai New Year!" - Sawatdi Songkraan!
Today is a big holiday in Thailand. Songkran is the Thai New Year. On this day, it is customary to douse yourself with water on the street, coat passers-by with talcum powder, and spray everyone with water pistols and ladles. I also armed myself and went to celebrate in Phuket Town, where Songkran is celebrated by the Thais, not the tourists.
When and where is Songkran celebrated in Phuket?
Songkran is officially celebrated in Phuket on April 13th. The main fun in Patong. Active water combat operations are also taking place in Kata and Karon. But most of the participants in water battles there are tourists. Based on the experience of the previous Songkran in Krabi, it was not very fun for me to douse myself in the company of Europeans, since they most often shoot in the head and eyes.
Katya stayed at home, and I headed to Phuket Town in search of where people have the most fun getting wet.
Songkran in Phuket Town
Almost throughout the town there are barrels where you can get water and at the same time congratulate the owners of the house who are celebrating New Year on the road. Many Thais dressed up in Hawaiian shirts today. They play loud music and, while dancing, spray water on all passing cars and motorcycles.
Walking through the non-tourist backstreets of Phuket Town, I repeatedly noticed how Thais were surprised and delighted that a white man walked into this street and doused them with water. Many did not even expect that I could douse and did not shoot first. But then they joyfully opened fire on me too.
By the way, few Thais drink; I saw drunk people in only a few places. In most cases, apparently, everyone gets their dose of endorphins from the process of dousing, and not from alcohol. I also never felt like drinking anything. Songkran is guaranteed to be great mood without unnecessary catalysts.
A lot of children take part in the holiday. Some kids were embarrassed or afraid to shoot at me, but as soon as I sprayed them first, they, too, happily began to shoot back.
I didn’t notice a single trans person or prostitutes. It seems that in the town it is ordinary Thais, just residents of Phuket and the surrounding provinces, who celebrate the holiday, and the rest go to celebrate where there are a lot of tourists.
I reached the very center of the town. Having passed the bus station on Ranong Rd, I ended up on Phuket Rd - this is where, as it turned out, the most massive dousing takes place.
Where can I order a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article.
Where is Songkran celebrated in Phuket Town
The most massive dousing takes place on Phuket Road. Starting from the Surin Traffic Circle and further down the street to the park.
The entire street in this section turns into a huge wet traffic jam. Some water from pickup trucks, others water from the ground, everything is the same as everywhere else. The fun here is no worse than in Patong, but there are practically no farangs. I saw about 10 people all day. Some were Thais and... If you are not a fan of Songkran, under no circumstances come here these days, as they will douse and smear you with talcum powder from head to toe.
Here too, many Thais were sincerely happy to see me. Many people smeared my forehead, cheeks and hair with multi-colored talcum powder, saying “Happy New Year” or something in their own way. After this, some caring aunt or uncle pours a bowl of water down the collar. Some people pour ice water.
One company took advantage of the fact that I took water from their barrel, after which everyone took turns taking a photo with me. Moreover, people over 40, not young people. They probably came from afar, maybe even from somewhere else.
By the way, not once during the whole day did I see such a thing that there was a charge for water. I filled my weapons in different barrels a hundred times. Before this, I read on someone’s blog that they sell water on Bangla Road in Patong. It costs 5 baht to load a pistol there, 10 baht for a machine gun.
Bottom line
I liked Songkran in Phuket no less than the last time in Krabi. After all, it’s a Thai holiday, I wanted to celebrate it in some more authentic atmosphere, surrounded by the local population, and not drunk trannies in Patong, so I’m glad that I went to Phuket Town and not to the beaches. He returned home soaked to the skin with traces of talcum powder on his face and proceeded straight into the shower in his clothes.
