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The Songkran water festival 2015 will take place from April 13 to 15. Our expert advises on where to join the water fights in Bangkok and around Thailand, and looks at the history of the celebration

Water throwing along the western moat of Chiang Mai, Thailand

New year traditions

The traditional water pouring is meant as a symbol of washing away all of their sins and the bad and is sometimes filled with fragrant herbs when celebrated in the traditional manner.

Revellers take part in a water fight during the Songkran water festival in Bangkok, Thailand.

(Borja Sanchez Trillo/Getty Images)

Songkran Elsewhere

Songkran is celebrated as Sangken in northeastern areas of India, as the traditional New Year's Day by the Buddhist Community. The Sangken festival is celebrated by the people of the Khampti tribe. The festival is also celebrated by Singpho, Khamyang, Tikhaks (Tangsa) and Phakyal community of Arunachal Pradesh, and Tai Phake community of Assam. Sangken generally falls in the month of 'Naun Ha', the fifth month of the year of the Khampti Lunar calendar coinciding with the month of April. It is celebrated in the last days of the old year and the Lunar New Year begins on the day just after the end of the festival.

The tradition of soaking people (mostly women) with water is typical in Poland, Slovakia and the Eastern Czech Republic during the original Easter celebrations on the beginning of April.

In some villages in South India, especially Karnataka, a festival called Okhali or Okhli is celebrated where every household keeps a barrel of water mixed with chalk and turmeric and throw it on passers-by. The date of Okhali coincides with that of Songkran in Thailand and Thingyan in Myanmar and not with the dates of Holi which is a north Indian festival.

Songkran at Wat Thai in Los Angeles

The cleansing ritual is supposed to bring luck and prosperity for the coming year

New Year celebration, Rot Nam Dam Hua, a traditional way to celebrate with elders. Most Thai people go back to their hometowns to meet their elders.

In Hua Hin, sand sculptures can be admired around the Beach House Retreat, April 13-15.

Songkran "Nang Dan" Parade, Nakhon Si Thammarat: watch the spectacular Nang Dan cultural procession, join the locals in paying homage to Phra Maha That Chadi Nakhon Si Thammarat, and purify the Phra Buddha Sihing at Suan Si Thammasokarat and Hor Phra Shiva, April 12-14.

Patong Beach, Phuket: join local and international tourists in marking the Thai New Year along Patong Beach, April 13-15, 10am-10pm.

Hat Yai Midnight Songkran: witness one of Thailand’s most unique ways to celebrate Songkran as the clock strikes midnight at Nipat Uthit 3 Road, Sanehanusorn Road and Wat Mahatta, April 11-15, 10am-11pm.

Songkran Ko Samui: join local and international tourists at popular Chaweng Beach, April 13, 8am-8pm.

The use of chalk (Thai: ดินสอพอง) is also very common having originated in the chalk used by monks to mark blessings.

Some children having fun at the Bangkok Zoo during Songkran.

What to wear for Songkran

As it’s hot, and clothes are likely to get ruined by sustained water and talc attacks, it’s advisable to wear as little as possible and to leave precious items of clothing in one’s luggage. Still, near-nudity is frowned upon and the Ministry of Culture appears to be scandalized each year by what it deems to be morally indecent incidents. One should certainly keep one’s camera fully clothed though – without waterproof housing, it’s likely to fall victim to the watery shenanigans.