When you were a child, if you loved having water fights in the street with your friends, then Songkran Festival is definitely for you!
If any festival is going to regress you back to a time when life was care free and you could run around soaking one another, head to Chiang Mai Thailand for the world’s largest water fight. It is hilarious!
Feet Do Travel braved Songkran and share their soaking experience with you!
If any festival is going to regress you back to a time when life was care free and you could run around soaking one another, head to Chiang Mai Thailand for the world’s largest water fight. It is hilarious!
Feet Do Travel braved Songkran and share their soaking experience with you!
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Songkran is the Thai New Year festival and the word "Songkran" comes from the Sanskrit word meaning a move or change in the position of the sun from Aries to Taurus. The throwing of water represents purification and the washing away of one's sins and bad luck.
In Chaing Mai, eager locals begin their water celebration days in advance of the official start date. We were on a scooter near Doi Suthep temple on 11th April and out of nowhere, we felt a huge splash of water across our face and in our laps from a bucket of water that had been thrown at us, thankfully we were driving slowly. This was our official introduction to Songkran and one we hadn’t expected quite so soon.
In Chaing Mai, eager locals begin their water celebration days in advance of the official start date. We were on a scooter near Doi Suthep temple on 11th April and out of nowhere, we felt a huge splash of water across our face and in our laps from a bucket of water that had been thrown at us, thankfully we were driving slowly. This was our official introduction to Songkran and one we hadn’t expected quite so soon.
Yes, Sy had a "Hello Kitty" water gun - and he loved it!
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Even the back roads to Doi Suthep temple did not escape Songkran
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That evening, as we rode to the petrol station in the dark, we felt the full force of party-goers as another bucket of water was thrown directly at our faces; it’s no wonder there are double the amount of accidents at this time of year than any other. During the 2016 Songkran festivities, 442 deaths and 3,656 injuries occurred from 11–17 April, the majority of these happened between 4pm – 8pm of which 80% were motorcycles. We won’t be making that mistake again; trips to the Old Town for the next few days will be by taxi only!
Around 2pm on 13th April which is the official New Year’s Day, the main procession begins. On the main road towards Thapae Gate the street is lined with people of all ages armed and ready to squirt anyone and everyone who passed by, but mainly to watch the procession (and soak its participants of course!). Large pick-up trucks and floats are decorated with flowers and parade slowly down the street, town’s people are dressed in matching outfits and when a statue of Lord Buddha cruised by, a special type of water mixed with flowers was shaken at him as a blessing.
Nobody is safe from a soaking - even the people on the procession were fair game
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A multitude of weapons are used; hand held water pistols, super soakers, backpack guns, people walking around with bowls and buckets, paddling pools at the side of the road filled with water for eager assassins to fill up their buckets and throw at passers-by (whether you want it or not!), old ladies with big mischievous smiles holding hosepipes, water bombs, trucks driving by filled with people who squirt you, individuals hanging around traffic lights for easy targets, men with man sized guns wearing inflatable rubber rings and blow up aliens, kids hiding behind their parents ambushing you, little girls with pink Hello Kitty guns, grown men with pink Hello Kitty guns (that was Sy), the squeals of joy when a target has been met, squeals of horror (which come from you) as iced water is dashed down your back.
Everyone gets in on the act, young, old, with walking sticks and wheelchairs; I heard a grown man shout to his friend “I’m out of water … I have to go back for a refill … cover me!”.
Everyone gets in on the act, young, old, with walking sticks and wheelchairs; I heard a grown man shout to his friend “I’m out of water … I have to go back for a refill … cover me!”.
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Water pistols of every shape, size and capacity were available - there is something for everyone
There is a moat all around the Old Town, the water is brown and murky, but this didn’t stop locals standing along its bank (and swimming in it) filling up their buckets and throwing it at passers-by … which included us. It wasn’t a pleasant smell at all I can tell you! I was in two minds which I disliked the most; iced water shocking me to the core or the warmth of murky moat water knowing how disgusting it looked and that this was now covering me. It’s no surprise people have upset stomachs after accidentally ingesting a lot of moat water.
Roads became rivers due to the sheer amount of water being thrown around
Music blared out from everywhere; trucks driving down the street with huge speakers, pubs and make-shift stands playing the latest dance tunes, there were people dancing everywhere but my personal favourite was a float filled with men dressed half in a police uniform and half in high heels dancing away getting soaked – they were in it for the fun and didn’t have any form of watery ammunition. Brilliant!
At lunchtime there was a cease fire; if you walked into a back-street café for food, guns were laid down on the table and people sipped a cold Chang as some respite from the heat of the day, re-fuelled their tummies with a cheap and flavoursome dish.
At lunchtime there was a cease fire; if you walked into a back-street café for food, guns were laid down on the table and people sipped a cold Chang as some respite from the heat of the day, re-fuelled their tummies with a cheap and flavoursome dish.
Food and beer, then back to water war!
After lunch, it was game on! The smiles and laughter were infectious, thankfully during the day the fighting was good natured and fun, the same can’t necessarily be said for early evening when people had begun drinking beer and you would feel the splash thrown by intoxicated assailants a little harder. We found a corner that played music and sold cans of beer for 40 baht, now that’s a great idea, beer at a water fight, what could possibly go wrong??
Every man, woman and child for themselves on the streets during Songkran
There was a large barrel constantly topped up with water to which large blocks of ice were added; now we felt we were part of the game! Suddenly we acquired a couple of small buckets from a new-found-friend who was fed up of being wet and was leaving – thank you Roger (from Hong Kong) for your donation to our cause!
We quickly joined the masses throwing water at passers-by (and on another), then a huge water fight would break out around the barrel for a few minutes; that is until an open truck would drive by slowing up for the traffic lights and everyone’s attention turned to them! We would all stand in a line taking it in turns soaking them – no one was safe, no one was spared, your best defence was to have your own barrel of water or water pistol on board; I heard one girl wail in the back of a tuk-tuk as she was pounded over and over with buckets of water “Stop please, I don’t like this, I want to get out”.
Songkran can be punishingly cruel at times, the lesson here is, do not enter Old Town during this time of year in a tuk-tuk, driving a scooter, on a bicycle or on foot unless you are armed… it’s the rules… if you do then you are fair game. We also found out the hard way!
Songkran can be punishingly cruel at times, the lesson here is, do not enter Old Town during this time of year in a tuk-tuk, driving a scooter, on a bicycle or on foot unless you are armed… it’s the rules… if you do then you are fair game. We also found out the hard way!
If on a Tuk-Tuk, the driver will slow down and make sure you get soaked!
It was amusing when it started to rain; people sought cover… are you kidding me? They were soaked through to the skin and dripping with water but they didn’t want to get wet from the rain?
We left Songkran saturated, rather smelly from mucky moat water, slightly drunk from day-time drinking, jaws aching from so much laughter and with photos of new-found friends. We were surprised at how much we actually embraced this event and immerse ourselves in this hilarious New Year culture, the atmosphere is infectious. We survived only two of the three (official) days, but what a blast it was!
If you want to feel like a big kid again and run around the streets soaking people while laughing hard, head to Chiang Mai for Songkran and have the time of your life!
Songkran survival tips:
- Dress appropriately; it is advisable for ladies not to wear white otherwise you will end up looking as if you have entered a wet-t-shirt competition!
- Wear quick dry clothes such as board shorts or gym tops, maybe wear swimmers underneath.
- If you are not comfortable running around in wet flip-flops on a soaking wet pavement, wear walking sandals – remember, safety first!
- Wear sunglasses or safety goggles if you are worried about getting water in your eye, it’s good protection which is often needed.
- Water pistols and buckets are sold all along the streets so it’s easy to take part in the action.
- Put all of your valuables in a waterproof bag or dry bag – you will regret it if you don’t!
- You can buy a waterproof pouch for your phone at stands that sell water pistols.
- Play fair – don’t squirt people directly in the face/eyes as it’s dangerous and not part of festival spirit, especially if someone is driving!!!
- If you don’t want to get wet, stay away from the Old Town during Songkran!
- Don't throw water or squirt people outside of the Old Town who clearly do not wish to get wet, they are staying out of the action for a reason.
- HAVE FUN! This a time for people to come together and celebrate so if you squirt someone accidentally, apologise and don’t take it too seriously.
How to get to Songkran
Songrkan is celebrated in various places throughout Thailand, but Chiang Mai is where it officially started and is considered "the capital of Songkran".
By plane: Air Asia fly to Chiang Mai from Bangkok and most other Asian cities.
By train: The overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes around 12 hours but is comfortable and there is a buffet cart on board. We used 12Go Asia who are situated directly opposite Bangkok's Hua Lamphong train station where you will catch the train. Note: It is advised to book early as this is the busiest time of year and trains fill up quickly.
Have you been to Songkran or is this something you would like to do? Let us know in the comments below.
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