DigiNepal · festivals
Songkran (Thai New Year) (สงกรานต์ (Thai)). Region: Thailand, Laos (Pi Mai), Myanmar (Thingyan), Cambodia (Choul Chnam), Sri Lanka. Tradition: Theravada Buddhist and South Asian solar new year. Calendar: Fixed by Thai government (13 to 15 April). Dates: Thailand 2026: Monday 13 April 2026 to Wednesday 15 April 2026 [official, source TH]; Thailand 2027: Tuesday 13 April 2027 to Thursday 15 April 2027 [official, source TH]; Thailand 2028: Thursday 13 April 2028 to Saturday 15 April 2028 [official, source TH]. History and significance: Songkran is the traditional Thai new year, originally marking the sun's entry into Aries in the sidereal zodiac, and now fixed by the government at 13 to 15 April. Families visit temples, bathe Buddha images and pour scented water over the hands of elders for blessings. Over time this became the famous nationwide water fight. Similar solar new year festivals are held in Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. Key rituals and foods: Merit making at temples, rod nam dum hua water blessing of elders, sand stupas, water fights; foods include khao chae chilled rice. Date basis: official = matches a government gazetted holiday list; computed = calculated from the calendar system (tithi astronomy with skyfield and JPL DE421, Hijri Umm al-Qura, Chinese, Korean and Hebrew calendar libraries, or the fixed rule); expected = Umm al-Qura projection pending moon sighting. Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata (CC BY-SA, CC0) and government holiday lists, summarised in our own words.