Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand to welcome the "New Year'. The word 'Songkran' is derived from a Sanskrit word, which means, 'The Beginning of a New Solar Year'. In Thai, it means 'change place' or 'move', as the sun changes its position in the zodiac during this time. The festival begins on the 13th of April and celebrated from 3 days. April 13th is the Maha Songkran Day or the day to mark the end of the old year, April 14th is Wan Nao or the next day and April 15th is Wan Thaloeng Sok or the beginning of the New Year.

Songkran Festival is also known as the Water Festival, as this festival is celebrated with water. As the festival falls during hottest period of the season, everybody loves to soak in water to feel refresh and cool. Songkran festival is also called the Public Spring Cleaning Day. In the afternoon of the 13th April, the images of Buddha are also given a ceremonial bath. The youngsters pour scented water into the hands of the elders and present them with gifts as a mark of respect to seek their blessings.

To witness the best celebration of Songkran Festival, one should go to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. People from various parts of the country come to this province to participate in the Songkran Festival celebration. People pour water over each other, conduct Miss Songkran Festival and participate in the colorful processions.

On Songkran Festival, the Buddha image 'Buddhasihing' is brought out from the National Museum to be placed at Sanam Luang opposite the grand Palace in Bangkok to sprinkle lustrum water.

Visakha Puja

Visakha Puja is one of the most venerate festivals of Thailand. Celebrated on 15th day of the increasing moon in the 6th lunar month, Visakha Puja is a day of religious holiday in Thailand. The Visakha Puja is celebrated to commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha throughout the length and breadth of Thailand. Religious flags are flown all over and religious ceremonies are performed across the country.

Along the countryside, people get up early in the morning to prepare food and sweets for the monks on the Visakha Puja. At the break of the day, they walk to the near by temple to spend the day in religious activities including listening to sermons during the day, participating in candle-lighting ceremony in the evening and circumambulation of the main chapel three times. During the procession, each person carries flowers, three incense sticks and a candle as a tribute to the Triple Gem, i.e., The Buddha, His Teachings and His Disciples.

On Visakha Puja, a majestic religious ceremony is organized at the Statue of Walking Buddha in Phuttha Monthon in Nakhom Pathom province. The member of the royal family led the candle Lighting Procession. Buddhists from all over the country try to participate in this ceremony. Some of them also practice meditation and listen to sermons to cleanse their minds and thoughts.

Loy Krathong Festival

Loy Krathong Festival is a very popular festival of Thailand, which falls in the beginning of the month of November. In Thai, 'Loy' means 'to float' and Krathong is a 'lotus-shaped float made of cork and banana leaves'. Each Krathong contains a flower, a candle, three incense sticks and a few coins. It is a festival when people visit the rivers, ponds or canals on a full moon night when the rivers are full of water to convey thanks to the River Goddess for providing them with water by launching Krathongs into the water. The Thai people also believe that Krathongs also carry away their sins, sufferings and bad luck along with them.

The Beauty Queen Contest before the launching of the Krathongs is the highlight of the Loy Krathong Festival. It is also called the Noppamas Queen Contest after the legendary figure Noppamas who was the royal consort of the Sukhothai King Lhe-Thai. It is believed by the Thai people that she was the person to invent the Krathong to float in the river during the festival.

During the time of the Loy Krathong Festival, many hotels and amusement parks in Bangkok make arrangements for the celebration of Loy Krathong Festival, Krathong Contest and Noppamas Queen Contest for their visitors. The tourists visiting Thailand during the time of Loy Krathong Festival can also participate in the celebration of the festival and enjoy every moment of it.

Bun Bang Fai Rocket Festival

The Bun Bang Fai is associated with the Fertility Ritual and is held just prior to the rainy season. There is a Thai Legend that the Rain God, Vassakan, loved to be worshipped with fire. So the people made Bung Fai or rockets to send to the heavens to impress him. It is a ritual to evoke the Rain God by firing rockets towards the sky so that good rains ensure good crop.