Songkran

Songkran (Lao/Thai New Year) History

Lao New Year celebrates the end of the dry season and the start of the monsoon season. Known as Pii Mai, it is a time for rebirth and purification. It spans three days. During this time, people pray at temples, hold ceremonies, and host parties. Another common tradition is to spray people with water.

Lao New Year stems from a Lao legend surrounding Thao Kabinlaphrom. Having lost a bet and his life, his daughters were left to care for his severed head, taking great care as to not let it touch the ground as the world would have faced great destruction otherwise. This story is reenacted during Lao New Year which is celebrated annually on April 13th.

Top 10 Facts for Songkran (Lao/Thai New Year) in 2026

• The upcoming celebration of Songkran in 2026 marks the arrival of the Buddhist year 2569, a designation that places the traditional Thai calendar 543 years ahead of the Gregorian system.
• Following its official inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023, the festival is being promoted under the global branding initiative Maha Songkran World Water Festival to elevate its status as a premier international event.
• Because April 13, 2026, falls on a Monday, the year's festivities are symbolically presided over by the goddess Koraka Devi, who is traditionally depicted in yellow attire with pearl ornaments, riding a tiger and carrying a sword and staff.
• Modern urban celebrations will see the return of the Siam Songkran Music Festival, which has announced the 2026 theme The Melora — Unified Thai Heritage to blend ancient mythology with electronic dance music.
• The world-renowned S2O Songkran Music Festival is scheduled to transform Bangkok’s Live Park Rama 9 into a massive aquatic arena from April 11 to 13, utilizing high-pressure 360-degree water cannons.
• In the historic city of Ayutthaya, a unique tradition continues where painted elephants join the revelry to spray water on visitors as a gesture of blessing for the new year.
• Traditionalists often participate in the ritual of Song Nam Phra, the act of cleansing sacred Buddha images with scented water, and Rot Nam Dam Hua, where younger generations pour water over the hands of elders to seek forgiveness and merit.
• The seaside city of Pattaya will host its famous Wan Lai festival, an extension of the New Year that continues the water-throwing festivities for several days beyond the official national holiday.
• Throughout the observance, the air is frequently filled with the classic 1961 anthem Ramwong Wan Songkran by the legendary band Suntaraporn, a song that remains a staple of the holiday’s cultural identity.
• In Laos, the concurrent celebration of Pi Mai Lao centers on the building of sand stupas or pagodas at local temples, which are decorated with flags and flowers to represent spiritual offerings.

In the News and Trending for Songkran

Top things to do for Lao New Year's Day

• Have a water fight with friends.
• Visit a waterpark or go to the beach.
• Watch the 2013 movie The Rocket. It tells the story of a young boy from Laos who is believed to bring bad luck and his journey to prove he doesn't.