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Songkran, the Thai new year, is replete with public water fights, which are seen as ritual cleansing.
Photo release
MANILA, Philippines — After ushering in the New Year with fireworks and a grand Media Noche feast last January 1 and welcoming the Chinese New Year, which is the Year of the Fire Horse, to the drumbeat of the Dragon Dance and Lion Dance on February 17, are you ready to celebrate a third New Year?
This time, it is the Thai New Year called Songkran Festival, which is taking place on April 13 with celebrations lasting until April 15. It is a celebration where tourists from different countries go to Thailand every April because it is easily one of the country's most celebrated annual traditions. It is colorful, vibrant and full of exciting festivities. Usually a three-day celebration, it has been extended to seven to as long as 21 days by the Thai government in the recent past.
The Songkran Festival is replete with public water fights, which are seen as ritual cleansing. There is a Water Festival incorporated into the celebration, with major streets closed to traffic so that people can converge and splash water on each other
People visit local temples and offer food to the Buddhist monks. The festival also shows the ritual pouring of water on Buddha statues, as well as on the elderly and the young, to represent purification and the washing away not just of their sins but also of the misfortunes that haunted them in the past year. There are far more interesting celebrations going on in the regions during the Songkran Festival.
But not all is tradition. Guests who will be visiting Thailand for the Songkran Festival this year will witness a new Songkran landmark rising.
New way to celebrate
Silom, Bangkok’s most iconic Songkran hotspots, adds a new dimension to the 2026 festivities with “CP Splash to Space” slated at CP Tower Silom from April 12 to 14. Supported by Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CPF), which is a global agro-industrial and food company operating in 17 countries and exporting to more than 50 markets worldwide, the event introduces a new Songkran experience that brings together Thai tradition, creativity and inclusive celebration in the heart of one of Thailand's most iconic festival districts.
While the world knows the familiar images of floral shirts and water splashes associated with the Thai New Year celebration, for Thais, Songkran is also a profound moment of respect and joy. It is a time for family gatherings, honoring elders and sharing blessings through water.
What makes Thailand's New Year especially compelling is the variety of experiences it offers across the country. From the heritage-rich rituals of Chiang Mai and the beachside festivities of Phuket to the multi-layered street celebrations of Bangkok, each destination brings a distinct character to the season.
Bangkok's Silom district continues to stand out as one of the festival's most recognizable destinations, distinguished by its blend of street celebration, nightlife and Pride energy. This 2026, Silom is further elevated as a new must-stop landmark for Songkran because of this new attraction, “CP Splash to Space.”
Inspired by CPF’s “Thai Chicken Mission to Space,” this space-themed new attraction is set to introduce a fresh dimension to Silom's celebrations with its range of live performances and interactive activities. Highlights include an appearance by Mix Chaloemsri on April 12, a performance by T-pop group iZ on April 13, and an international Pride parade on April 14, which is expected to bring together more than 3,000 participants along nearly two kilometers of Silom Road.
Beyond the celebration itself, the event also brings food innovation into the heart of the festival. This year's theme, which highlights CPF's "Thai Chicken Mission to Space," features "Basil Chicken Breast" crafted to NASA's rigorous food safety standards. For travelers seeking the full Silom experience, it offers a high-tech, high-flavor pit stop amidst the festival's famous water splashes.
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