As a key feature of the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025 and the Thailand Summer Festivals, this year’s edition of ‘Songkran in Thailand, traditional Thai New Year festival’—recently inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity—will be the most expansive and dynamic yet. The recognition affirms Songkran’s cultural importance on the global stage and reinforces Thailand’s growing reputation as a destination for meaningful and memorable festival experiences.
More than 100 events will take place across Bangkok and throughout the Central, Northern, Northeastern, Southern, and Eastern regions. Each location brings its own blend of tradition and celebration—from sacred rituals and temple fairs to music festivals and lively water fights.
On the first day of the new year, on April 13, “people, particularly the elderly, visit temples to sprinkle water on Buddha images” – a ritual that’s known as Song Nam Phra.
“However, each region of Thailand has a slightly different practice; for example, in northern Thailand — or Lanna — people utilize a naga waterspout to pour water on a Buddha image rather than directly,” he says.
“Why is everyone carrying those guns?”
This seemingly valid question was asked during an episode of season three of “The White Lotus” by Kate (Leslie Bibb), one of three women in Thailand on a girls’ trip together — but who don’t appear to actually like each other.
The trio, on an excursion to a town near their resort, are alarmed to see the heavily armed but colorfully dressed crowd.
“On Songkran they have water fights in the street,” says resort employee Valentin (Arnas Fedaravicius) as he drops them off, telling them to do some shopping. “It’s for fun, don’t worry about it.”
The ladies carry on, walking down the crowded street, pleading with a group of young kids that starts shooting water at them to leave them alone as they are “going out tonight” and “don’t want to get wet.”
‘White Lotus’ is expected to lure more tourists to Thailand. These are the locations featured on season 3 of the hit show
As any seasoned Songkran vet knows, such pleas often make things worse. The screaming women attempt to run from the chaos, the kids in hot pursuit, before ducking into a convenience store where Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) exclaims: “What the *&@#! was that?!”
On the surface, Thailand’s annual Songkran festival does indeed appear to be just one great big water fight.
Every April, people young and old take to the streets all over the country, armed with plastic guns and water buckets, and engage in hours-long battles from morning till dusk.
And while that’s certainly the most famous aspect of the celebrations, Songkran is filled with unique cultural traditions, making it an excellent time for travelers to visit.
Thailand's most famous dessert, mango sticky rice can be found everywhere from the streets to high-end Thai restaurants. Sweet sticky rice is drizzled in a coconut cream sauce and served with ripe mango slices. Though available all year, it’s particularly popular in the summer months when mangoes are in season.
Water fights: Songkran, the traditional Thai New Year's Festival, is celebrated each April, the hottest month of the year in Thailand. As part of the festivities, water fights are held throughout the country.
<The word “Songkran” is said to have derived from ancient Sanskrit, used to describe the monthly movement within the zodiac.
It marks the start of the traditional Thai New Year and is usually celebrated from April 13-15, though some places stretch out the fun a few extra days.
Taking place at the height of the Thai summer, it’s a time to take a break from work and hit the road, with many people journeying hundreds of kilometers to their hometowns to reconnect with family and friends.
In 2023, UNESCO added Songkran to its Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list, noting that it refers to the sun’s annual passing into the Aries constellation, the first sign of the Zodiac, which marks the traditional start of the traditional Thai New Year festival.
“Pouring water is a significant act during Songkran, symbolizing cleansing, reverence and good fortune,” reads the UNESCO inscription.
“Other activities include bathing important Buddha images, splashing water on family and friends, folk plays, games, music and feasting.”
It’s the splashing that has turned Songkran into a global sensation in recent decades, with massive water fights held on closed city streets everywhere from Khao San Road and Silom Road in Bangkok to Chiang Mai’s historic Old City.
In a 2024 interview with CNN, Pipad Krajaejun, a history lecturer at Bangkok’s Thammasat University, said it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when the water fights became such a key part of the festival.
“However, old photos shot by Boonserm Satraphai of Chiang Mai in 1964 show that numerous people engaged in water battles in the Ping River,” he added.
“According to many elderly people, water fights have been taking place in various places in Thailand for 60-70 years.”
In those days, Pipad said, “everyone played with water in the village, everyone knew each other, and there was kinship,” unlike today’s battles, which can involve thousands of revelers and high-powered water guns.
Songkran celebrations take place all over the country in pretty much every city, town and village. (We’ll share more on the water fights below.)
Some events are organized by local government bodies, while many hospitality businesses including theme parks, hotels, restaurants and bars host their own Songkran-themed parties. Some towns limit the water fights to one day, so be sure to check ahead if you’re planning to join the battles.
Thailand’s Tourism Authority has put together a list of official celebrations taking place all over the country as part of the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025, including the multiple events planned for Bangkok.
Though Songkran traditions vary all over the country, Thammasat University’s Pipad says two main rituals are still widely carried out today.
