6 Countries Celebrating Songkran Beyond Thailand

Reporter

Mila Novita

April 13, 2025 | 10:25 pm

Songkran Water Festival at Silom Road, Bangkok, Thailand. Shutterstock

TEMPO.CO, JakartaThe Songkran festival, celebrated every April 13-15, marks the beginning of the traditional Thai New Year. The iconic festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout the Land of the White Elephants.

Rooted in the Buddha tradition, Thai people celebrate Songkran by visiting temples to make offerings, pouring water on the Buddha statues to receive blessings, and spending time with loved ones. The water used symbolizes the cleansing of bad luck, both literally and spiritually. However, in this day and age, Songkran is celebrated more lavishly with entertainment, including massive water fights, street parties, and music festivals.

Despite being an iconic celebration in Thailand, the spirit of Songkran has spread to countries that adhere to Theravada Buddhism. Each country adds its own local touch to the celebration. Here are some countries that celebrate Songkran, as reported by Travel and Leisure.

1. Laos

Laos celebrates the holiday as Pi Mai. This celebration is similar to the one in Thailand, including water fights and temple visits. However, the Lao version of Songkran emphasizes more on religious tradition and community-based activities, rather than entertainment and large-scale water parties.

2. Myanmar

In Myanmar, the Songkran Festival known as Thingyan is celebrated with water fights, traditional music, and religious ceremonies. The locals also visit the Pagodas to pray and seek blessings. Similar to the festival in Thailand, people also engage in water fights symbolizing the cleansing of misfortunes from the past year.

3. Cambodia

The Cambodian New Year is called Choul Chnam Thmey, celebrated every year from April 14 to 16. This celebration becomes a public holiday for three days, filled with Buddhist ritual, traditional games, festive cleaning, and charitable activities. Moreover, the Cambodian New Year also provides an opportunity for farmers to relax and enjoy the fruits of their labor before the rainy season begins.

4. Hong Kong

Songkran-themed music festivals and water parties have become a trend in Hong Kong. This celebration is more modern compared to Thailand, as it focuses more on entertainment rather than traditional customs.

5. Australia

Due to the large Thai diaspora, Australia also celebrates Songkran in April. The event is filled with various festivities, ranging from cultural performances and community gatherings to Thai cuisine feasts and water fights. Some cities in Australia that celebrate Songkran include Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.

6. United States

Songkran celebrations in the United States are held in cities with thriving Thai communities, such as Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Songkran in the United States features parades, Thai food markets, Muay Thai competitions, cultural shows, and of course, water fights.

Editor’s Choice: 5 Best Places to Enjoy Songkran Festival in Phuket, Thailand

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News



How to Get to Prambanan Temple from Yogyakarta

2 hari lalu

How to Get to Prambanan Temple from Yogyakarta

Here is the route to Prambanan Temple from Yogyakarta by private vehicle or public transportation.


10 Countries with the Most Time Zones, France on Top

2 hari lalu

10 Countries with the Most Time Zones, France on Top

The countries with the most time zones spread out widely from Europe to the borders of Australia, factored by multiple fascinating reasons.


Tourists in Thailand Now Need Prescription to Purchase Marijuana

3 hari lalu

Tourists in Thailand Now Need Prescription to Purchase Marijuana

Although Thailand decriminalized recreational marijuana use in 2022, there was initially no clear regulatory framework.


Indonesia's Sugiono Scheduled to Attend ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Malaysia

3 hari lalu

Indonesia's Sugiono Scheduled to Attend ASEAN Ministerial Meetings in Malaysia

Foreign Minister Sugiono is scheduled to attend 19 diplomatic meetings as part of the 58th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) and Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 8-11, 2025.


Indonesia Seeks Lower Tariffs Than Vietnam in Ongoing U.S. Negotiations

4 hari lalu

Indonesia Seeks Lower Tariffs Than Vietnam in Ongoing U.S. Negotiations

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto hopes for better tariff terms with the U.S. than Vietnam secured.


One Big Beautiful Bill: Inside Trump's Latest Tax and Spending Proposal

4 hari lalu

One Big Beautiful Bill: Inside Trump's Latest Tax and Spending Proposal

President Donald Trump's Tax Cut and Spending Reduction Bill is viewed as more beneficial to high-income earners.


Australia's First Orbital Rocket Launch Delayed Again

4 hari lalu

Australia's First Orbital Rocket Launch Delayed Again

The inaugural launch will be the first test of the plan for several launches as part of the rocket system certification process.


US Heatwave: What Is a Heat Dome?

4 hari lalu

US Heatwave: What Is a Heat Dome?

A heat dome has hit parts of the United States.


3 MIKTA Agendas Amidst Global Chaos, Indonesia Involved

4 hari lalu

3 MIKTA Agendas Amidst Global Chaos, Indonesia Involved

Middle-power countries, including Indonesia, are uniting to strengthen their cooperation as part of MIKTA.


Today's Top 3 News: Ecoton Research Finds Microplastics in Drinking Water and River Fish in East Java

5 hari lalu

Today's Top 3 News: Ecoton Research Finds Microplastics in Drinking Water and River Fish in East Java

Here is the list of the top 3 news on Tempo English today.