Festivals

In April, Thailand comes to a standstill for Songkran Festival, the Thai New Year. Armed with water-guns, people take to the streets for a mass water fight. Water symbolizes the end of the dry season and also its ability to cleanse the soul, though don't expect to feel too 'cleansed' after three days of this all-out water party.

Also known as the ‘Rose of the North’ due to its abundance of plant life, Chiang Mai plays host to the country’s annual Flower Festival. Throughout February the city blossoms into life, with colorful displays and parades. Suan Buak Haad Park is also transformed into a huge flower expo, showcasing the pick of the bunch.

This beautiful and quaint candle festival marks both the start of rainy season and the Buddhist Lent period. On Asanha Bucha day, candles (which are supposed to dispel gloom with their light) are decorated and then paraded through town, eventually ending up at various temples. Expect celebrations around town for two weeks in July.

The Sak Yant Festival is a one-day tattoo extravaganza held at Bang Pra Temple, just outside Bangkok. Specifically for devotees, the event is a chance for many to get inked up with Sanskrit scriptures - all from the end of a sharpened bamboo stick. Expect to see some weird and wonderful, almost magical things!

At the start of the rainy season, many northeastern Thai provinces make, decorate and ultimately launch their home-made rockets into the sky. This is part of the three-day Bun Bangfai festival, in which rockets are used to symbolize a 'reach-out' gesture to the Buddhist Gods up in heaven, who hopefully will deliver good fortune in return.

From the weird to the wonderful, the three-day Pi Ta Khon festival in the picturesque Thai province of Loei showcases a wide range of unique Buddhist rituals for both locals and tourists to enjoy. Don’t be surprised if you witness muddy men roaming around, large phallus parades or bizarre dances in equally interesting costumes.