Songkran in Koh Samui

Spending your Songkran in Koh Samui is an unforgettable experience.  

Songkran in Koh Samui island is one of the most popular and widely anticipated festivals in Thailand. “Songkran” is also known as the “Thai New Year” or the “Water Festival”. Water is a sacred symbol for Thais that is often associated with cleansing or washing away of bad luck. Most foreigners know the 

Songkran as the Water Festival of Thailand. This celebration is held each year from April 13 to April 15. Expect Songkran in Koh Samui island to be wild beyond your expectations. It is a time for festivities and enjoyment for the Thais and the best place to experience the Thai New Year is in Koh Samui island.

This Water Festival originates from a Sanskrit origin that denotes the movement of the sun or the changing position of the sun into the zodiac. In Thailand, Songkran was traditionally a mark of the time of year when Thais would travel back home to visit their family and to give honor to the elders. In earlier times, the Songkran was a humble pouring of water over the family members and the friends’ shoulders and hands to wash away bad luck. Nowadays, it is a celebration in the whole country which is often celebrated by pouring bucketfuls of water.

In Koh Samui island, Songkran is widely celebrated. Usually, the locals go to the temple to offer a prayer and food to the temple monks. It is a celebration filled with merriment and well wishes. The whole community gathers together in well wishing. This celebration is likened to the combination of Chinese New Year and April Fool’s Day. 

Songkran usually takes place during the warmest season of the year. Since it is so warm, people find good reason to have water fights on this day. In Koh Samui island, the people prepare buckets of water, water hoses and gallon drums of water as “weapons” for the water fight. The whole day, you will witness people, both locals and tourists, joining in on the fun of water fights. There are pickup trucks and cars parked all over the island.

If you want to join in on the fun at Koh Samui island, bring a water pistol, a bottle of water or a bucket if you want. The rule of the water fight is simple: attack with your own “weapon” to those who least expect it. People are expected to play nice if the truly want to participate in this silly yet enjoyable celebration. Bring your nice attitude into the playground and leave your viciousness behind. It’s all about clean fun.  

Those that have “immunity” from the water fight are the uniformed police, the elderly and those that are driving. The common problem during this celebration is road safety because motorbike and scooter drivers often get shocked with the water bombs coming their way. However, among players, you can expect that there will be those mixing four, soap suds, talcum powder and other such things with the water. Some even chill the water near freezing point to add shock value. 

New Years in Koh Samui

Koh Samui is one of the best places to go and welcome in a New Year. (photo courtesy of samuizoom.com)

The best time to enjoy your Koh Samui travel experience is by visiting the island during New Year’s Day. Koh Samui is an exotic island in Thailand that has successfully preserved its local traditions, culture and landscape. However, it has also successfully developed into a resort destination with international standards. There are many visitors from all over the world anticipating the various festivities in Koh Samui, including New Year’s Day.

Thailand is an ideal place to celebrate New Year’s Day because the festivities are extraordinary and unique among the rest of the world. In Koh Samui, the people celebrate three New Year celebrations in a year. In January 1, they celebrate the worldwide New Year’s Day. Around the first week of February, they again celebrate it together with the Chinese for the Chinese New Year. On April 13, the people of Koh Samui celebrate it yet again following the Thai solar calendar. The April 13 New Year’s Day is culminated by the Songkran, the last day of celebration. It is a Koh Samui travel experience that you should not miss out on. April 13 is a special day for Thais because it is the first day on the Thai solar calendar.

The Songkran is highly anticipated not just by the Thais but the tourists as well. It is commonly known as the Water Festival. This festival makes the Koh Samui travel experience unique compared to other islands. In Koh Samui, people playfully enjoy the water fights on the street. They prepare water pistols, gallons of water and water balloons to aim at those joining the celebration. The streets are full of players joining in on the water fight. Traditionally though, Thais would travel back home to gather with their relatives and they would perform a cleansing ritual by pouring water onto themselves. Nowadays, some Thais still continue this tradition but they also participate in the long awaited water fights.

Aside from the water fights, there are many other things you can enjoy during your Koh Samui travel. You can enjoy the lovely floats decorating the rivers of the island. The Loy Krathong is another celebration during the Thai New Year wherein the people build kratongs (small crafts) to contain their offerings of food, flowers, money, candles, incense sticks and so on. They would let the kratong sail along the rivers around the island. This is another long anticipated Koh Samui travel experience for most tourists because the floats are beautifully decorated and the designs are intricately traditional Samui. The festivities include dances and performances by the locals.

Since most tourists enjoy their Koh Samuitravel in resorts near beaches, the island also has made popular the beach parties at night during New Year’s. They have laidback parties with bonfire, dancing and singing of traditional Samui songs. The parties can be a cultural experience for those that have yet to experience New Year’s at Koh Samui. The clear blue seas, the tropical wind and the laidback atmosphere attracts many visitors to the island especially during New Year’s.