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Dos and Don’ts for Songkran!
Songkran is popular for being a water splashing festival throughout the country during the hottest time of the year. However, for those who are not as clued up on Thai history, Songkran is actually a celebration of Thai New Year during mid-April from 13th to 15th. Traditionally, Thai families would visit relatives to receive blessings and ask for forgiveness from their seniors. In the modern day, Songkran has become a big water festival in the streets so here are a couple of Dos and Don’ts for Songkran:
Do
- Put your mobile phone and wallet in a zip-lock bag to prevent them from getting wet. Nothing more frustrating than having expensive electronics destroyed midst-water war.
- Wear a swimsuit underneath your clothing to prevent indecent transparency. Thai culture is still pretty conservative and see through white shirts with provocative underwear underneath wouldn’t look good in the locals’ eyes.
- Leave your valuables at home or in your hotel safe. You might need to have some extra cash on you and your phone to contact your friends, but only bring the real essentials kept in a zip lock bag.
- If you don’t plan to join the water festival that day, it’s probably best to avoid walking on roads as that’s where the party will be.
- Take care of yourself. Even though Songkran isn’t the time to be dolled up in your most beautiful dress, you should still apply sunscreen to avoid nasty burns and keep yourself hydrated as it will be the hottest time of the year.
Don’t
- Use banned equipment. Previously, there have been rather hazardous equipment used to shoot water and aim from far distances that have caused accidents in the past. Stick to the legal tools such as small water buckets and light water guns.
- Powder strangers. Unless it’s a light tap on the cheek, we recommend that you avoid powdering a stranger’s body as it has recently been banned to avoid indecent touching.
- Get too rowdy in the festival. While a drink or two might make the experience fun, it’s best not to get too tipsy to prevent aggressive splashing that can be harmful.
- Wear dressy shoes when walking down the street. As the floors are going to be wet, you should instead opt for sandals or flip-flops with a firm grip to the ground rather than dressy shoes that can make you slip and fall.
- For the ladies, we advise you not to wear too much makeup. Keep things minimal and waterproof unless you want to parade the streets looking like a raccoon.
Here are just a few tips that might seem obvious to locals or experienced Songkran travellers. These points may be clear but often ignored, especially by first-time travellers who have never experienced the full length of Songkran. Keeping this in mind, Songkran remains to be a one-of-a-kind tradition that will spice up your holiday and leave you with unforgettable memories! If you wish to book this experience now, click here to see our current hotel promotions!
