Songkran, Thailand’s most popular festival marks the beginning of the traditional Buddhist New Year. It takes place every year in April between the 13th to the 15th. Also known as the ‘Water Splashing Festival,’ it symbolically represents washing away the previous year so that people can get ready for the next one.
Traditional Celebrations
Buddha images are bathed and younger Thais offer their reverence to monks and elders by sprinkling water over their hands. Many Buddhists visit temples throughout Songkran to offer their prayers.
Water Fights
Water is an important part of Songkran celebrations and throwing water on each other turns into a riotous revelry during this time. Throngs of people roam around throwing buckets of water, using water pistols, and water balloons, sometimes filled with ice-cold water generally drenching anyone they come across in close vicinity.
If you’re stepping out on these days, ensure that you’re prepared for this water attack. Wear light beach clothes that you don’t mind getting wet in. Wear a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes and carry your cash and cell phone in a waterproof bag or wallet.
Other Festivities
Besides the water fights, you’ll also come across plenty of parades, dancing, and folk entertainment to mark the lunar change. Adrenalin-pumping street parties with loud music and giant friendly water fights are common across.
Songkran in Phuket
In Phuket, Songkran is majorly celebrated only on one day, that is on April 13th, however, some people do start partying and throwing water from the afternoon of the 12th. All days from 13th to 15th observe a public holiday officially, so there’s a lot of partying alongside the traditional celebrations of Songkran.
While last year’s celebrations in Phuket were hampered due to the pandemic, in 2021 some of the restrictions with regards to Covid19 are being relaxed in view of the improving situation overall.
The Songkran activities are spread all across the island, and no matter where you are in Phuket, you are bound to come across Songkran festivities or water fights around you. Although, the most notorious and wildest water fights take place in the bar-lined Bangla Road in Patong.
Phuket Songkran Celebrations, 2021
Songkran 2021 in Phuket features a variety of events for visitors. From the more traditional temple rituals, exhibits showcasing local crafts and clothing, entertainment shows such as the Miss Songkran local ladies beauty pageant, colorful parades, to the wild water fights and throbbing night parties, there’s something for everyone when this friendly island transforms into a vibrant and jubilant piece of heaven.
Traditional Celebrations at The Big Buddha, Phuket
Visit the Buddhist temples to observe the locals performing their rituals and click some great pictures of the picturesque views surrounding the temple. You could plan an early morning trip to the Big Buddha, a 45-meter-tall white jade marble adorned statue of the Buddha, the tallest sitting Buddha in Thailand. The sight of monks reciting traditional chants, prayers, and performing Buddha statue bathing rituals are interesting to experience. The scenic landscape around the Big Buddha is also worth the visit.
Water Fights on the Streets of Phuket
There’s no age limit to join in Songkran festivities. You’ll see kids, teens, being joined by adults and tourists, forming teams to ambush each other with water ammunition. If you intend to join in the early festivities, head for the Songkran wet street parties from early morning. Starting on a gentle note in Phuket Town around 10 am, they turn into water dogfights in the afternoon in Patong, Kata, and Karon, as it ends in a high-energy full-fledged wet war zone on Bangla Road until late in the night.
Phuket Songkran Parties
The wildest party scene during Songkran in Phuket province is on Patong beach. The famed Bangla Road will be pedestrianized and the party meter goes up well into the night until dawn! Nearly all the beaches will be buzzing with sunbathers, sandcastle competitions, live music, and many other entertainment options.
A Glimpse of Phuket's Songkran 2021 Celebrations
This year’s Phuket Songkran celebrations at Patong Beach will specifically see a procession of the Phra Buddha Sihing image, a floral parade, a little Miss Songkran beauty pageant, an art, and cultural exhibition, and water splashing along the Patong beach.
In Conclusion
Known for its high spirits and friendly camaraderie, the flamboyant island of Phuket is the perfect destination to head for if you wish to experience the pulse of Songkran festivities in Thailand. If you are planning to visit this colorful island, also read about the best time to visit Phuket.
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