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The much anticipated Songkran Festival is an important celebration in the Thai calendar. Celebrated from the 13th to the 15th of April, the occasion is considered to mark the arrival of the New Year according to the nation’s traditional calendar. A national holiday in Thailand, this festival has evolved into a joyous and merry occasion when everyone joins in the fun and laughter. Even foreigners are welcomed to join in the festivities.
Today, the main festivity during Songkran is the enthusiastic splashing of water upon one another. Thais take the opportunity to wander the streets of cities armed with buckets of water, garden hoses and water guns. Groups of revellers will position themselves along roads and at intersections, enthusiastically drenching pedestrians, cars, taxis, tuk tuks and motorcycles alike. Police officers are not exempt from the fun and are a special target on this occasion. Additionally, a mixture of talc powder and water is smeared on the bodies and faces of passersby; this is considered as a kind of blessing for the coming year. Everyone takes part in the festivities good naturedly and no one gets angry or upset.
On the other hand it should be remembered that this kind of revelry was not always the focus of this occasion. Traditionally, Songkran was celebrated as an occasion to visit and pay one’s respects to elders, neighbours, friends and monks. Many Thais celebrate the event as a Buddhist religious festival, and visit their neighbourhood monastery to give alms to monks and pray. Another interesting ritual is the cleansing of Buddha figures at homes and monasteries by pouring fragrant water on them. This is thought to bring prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.
Additionally, Thais take the opportunity to make resolutions for the coming year, just as their counterparts do in Western countries. Since Songkran is considered to be a time for cleansing and rejuvenation, Thais often also clean their homes meticulously at this time of the year. Visitors from abroad will also enjoy observing the festivities at this joyous occasion.
If you are planning a visit to Thailand and are considering Bangkok city hotels to host your stay, an outstanding choice would be the Atrium Bangkok. This city hotel Bangkok offers provides fine accommodations in a convenient setting.

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe. Google+

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