Songkran in Pattaya

Where there is a rule there must be an exception to that rule. The same goes with Songkran in Pattaya. While the rest of the areas of Thailand celebrate the Songkran festival on 13th of April, the festival is celebrated in Pattaya around 18th or 19th of the same month. Songkran is one of the biggest Thai festivals that the people of Thailand celebrate with joy and gusto. Songkran is celebrated on the occasion of Thai New Year. According to the Thai calendar the Thai New Year begins in the middle of April. This New Year festival known as Songkran is an important festival that has both religious and fun aspect. 

There is a long history behind the exception of date of Songkran in Pattaya. Pattaya is a major city of Chonburi province. The Songkran festival in Chonburi province is celebrated following the Wan Lai principal. As a result Songkran is celebrated in different cities of Chonburi on different days. On 15th April, the day Songkran is celebrated in the rest of the country, the festival is celebrated in Muang Chonburi, the provincial capital of Chonburi. Sri Ratcha and Sattahip come next. After that Banglamung and Naklua celebrates this festival. Finally on 19th April the festival begins in Pattaya. 

During the Songkran festival in Pattaya people practice the traditional rituals. They throw water at each other on the road and drench each other. They also visit the Buddhist monasteries or wats to pray for a happy and prosperous year ahead. People of Thailand also make new year resolutions during the Songkran festival. For the Thai people it is also a day for visiting their near and dear ones. They also celebrate the day through the western style parties where they eat, drink and make merry.