Dates: 18th - 19th April 2008
Songkran Festival

Songkran Festival is the traditional Thai New Year, it is the time when Thais go the Temples offering food to the Buddhist monks, freeing birds or turtles back into the wild (It is believed if you free a turtle it will give you a longer life), houses are spring-cleaned, scented water is sprinkled on their elders as a sign of respect!

Songkran is internationally famous and well known from the water dousing that goes on throughout Thailand. Children and adults alike stand along the roadside to douse passers by with water and talcum powder. The backs of the trucks are filled with large barrels of water which is promptly dispatched over everyone they pass by as they drive slowly along the streets. Those that venture out will not escape a very thorough soaking, but its great fun and very refreshing as it's the peak of the hot season.

Songkran days are also without a doubt family days and where possible the families leave the big cities to spend time with their families and pay respect in recognition of everything they did for them. The traditional greeting is 'Sawadee Pi Mai', which means "Happy New Year".