At Agoda, we have our biggest team of 2,000+ employees in Thailand working at offices in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai. Around this time each year, Agodans will begin to wear bright floral clothes and arm themselves with toy water guns to celebrate one of Thailand’s most important holidays together: Songkran, the Thai New Year.
What is Songkran?
Songkran (เทศกาลสงกรานต์) is a 3-day festival in Thailand that starts on April 13 every year to mark the official beginning of the New Year. It’s also celebrated in neighbouring countries that follow the Buddhist calendar, but under different names like Thingyan in Myanmar, Chaul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia, and Phi Mai in Laos.
During Songkran, people prepare for and celebrate the New Year by making merits, pouring water on the hands of elders, and splashing water on each other. What is widely known as a water fight is a symbolic way to wash away the bad luck and start the New Year on a clean slate.
What happens during Songkran?
We asked our fellow Agodans from Thailand — Mo, James, Captain, and Maprang — to share more about Songkran. Watch them answering all the questions you might have.
How do Agodans celebrate Songkran?
From running in floral t-shirts to visiting a historical place in traditional outfits, we celebrate Songkran in various ways.
Agoda runners at Songkran Run 2018.
Agoda’s Business Development Team in Thailand wearing Pha Khao Ma, traditional Thai fabric.
Agoda’s Partner Marketing Team wearing traditional outfits in Ayutthaya, a historical old city in north of Bangkok.
Whether you’re from Thailand or elsewhere, whether it’s your first time celebrating or a yearly occasion, we wish you a bright New Year. Sawatdee bpee mai (สวัสดีปีใหม่ไทยค่ะ)!
Inspired to celebrate the Thai New Year? Join us in Thailand.
