Each year Songkran falls on the 13th, 14th and 15th of April, which are Thai public holidays and a time when most Thai people return home to visit their families. Historically, Songkran was Thailand’s (and neighboring countries of Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos) New Year and is the most important holiday on the Thai calendar.
Historically, the festival of Songkran originates from the Brahmin people of India who celebrated a "Sangkranti" festival which signified the vernal equinox when the sun re-enters Aries and finishes its orbit of the Earth on 13th April each year. The Brahmins called this time their New Year as it was the start of the Spring which signified new life and new beginnings. This celebration of the vernal equinox is deep-rooted in many cultures around the world and is also celebrated as the Indian Holi Festival, the Christian Easter festival and Chinese Ching Ming festival.
Traditionally, Songkran is a time to pay respects to elders, families, neighbours and friends and a time when Thai people clean out their homes signifying the washing away of bad luck and a new beginning. A typical day of Songkran in the past would mean visiting the temple early in the morning to give offerings of food to monks. After the monks finished eating, the temple gathering would then feast on the food. Perfumed water was poured on images of Buddha and gently over the shoulder of friends and family (especially the eldest) to signify the washing away of evil and bad luck. This use of water is very common in important Thai ceremonies such as weddings, funerals and blessings as water is seen as pure and cleaning force in Thai culture.
Nowadays, Songkran has evolved to the throwing of water, talcolm powder and even food colouring over strangers with lines of partying revellers using plastic waterguns, buckets, hoses and anything else they can get their hands onto to soak everyone and everything that moves. Lines of slow moving pickup trucks carring their lethal cargo of water barrels, plastic guns and enthusistic children and adults alike pounce on suspecting passer-bys.
On Koh Samui, the water-throwing starts around lunch-time with water fights on every street of the island. Generally, most vistors make their way to Chaweng towards the early evening where the party continues until dawn. On Koh Samui, unlike other places in Thailand which can have water fights for up to 3, 7 or even 10 days, the fun only lasts for 1 day.
Unfortunately Songkran does have its downside as the 3-day holiday is a time of the highest number of road accident deaths in the country with around 1,000 Thai people and visitors killed and many more injured during the holiday period, each year. Less seriously, Songkran is also a time of the highest number of broken cameras and mobile telephones as you can probably imagine, so don't take out anything expensive that doesn't like getting wet!
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