Schedule of Chiang Mai Songkran Festival 2018
Songkran, the Thai New Year is approaching (April 13-15) and Chiang Mai is probably the most popular and lively destination for this festival. I just got the official schedule…
Songkran 2018 in Chiang Mai
The official program starts on April 1 and is quite busy with many ceremonies in the city temples but is is from April 13 to April 15 that the main Songkran events will take place. I also added the big alms offering ceremony the day before that will mark the anniversary of the city.
Program of Songkran celebration from 13 to 15 April
The most important moment of the Songkran celebrations in Chiang Mai is the procession of Phra Singh and other Buddhas images from many other temples. It will take place on April 13 from 1:30 pm and will go from the Sanpakhoi intersection to Wat Phra Singh. The procession of the Boddhi tree of the next day is also interesting.
The Three Kings Monument and Thapae Gate will be the two location of most activities.
- April 12 from 6 am to 8 am: Big Alms giving ceremony to mark the 722th Anniversary of the establishment of Chiang Mai city (Three Kings Monument)
- April 12 from 10:09 am to 11:39 am: Salutation and Worship ceremony to the Head of Kabillapphrom (God of Songkran)
- April 13 from 6 am – 8 am : Alms Giving ceremony for Pee Mai Muang Festival 2018 (Songkran) (Thapae Gate)
- April 13 from 8:09 am – 8:39 am: opening ceremony of Chiang Mai Songkran Festival 2018 (Thapae Gate)
- April 13 – 15 from 10 am to 10pm: Lanna cultural open space with Lanna tribute contest, activities for cultural area-food, local dessert, knowledge center, cultural performances. (Thapae Gate)
- April 13 from 1:30 pm to 6 pm: procession of the Buddha Phra Singh and other Buddha Images while people pour scented water on them (from Sanpakoi Intersection to Wat Phra Sing)
- April 14-15 from 7pm to midnight: election of Miss and Mister Songkran 2018 (Thapae Gate)
- April 14 from 1:30 pm to 5 pm: procession of Holy Boddhi Tree and sand offerings to temples (from the Iron Bridge to the Thapae Gate with stops in the different temples).
- April 15th from 7pm to 11pm: Songkran Kids contest (Thapae Gate)
On these three days (13, 14 and 15 April), there will be many people in the temples to pray and participate in two Songkran rituals: the bath of Buddha images which consists of pouring scented water on Buddha images and the sand pagodas on which everyone will add a bucket of sand and plant a pennant.
If it happens in almost all temples in Chiang Mai, it is at Wat Phra Singh that there should be the most crowed.
Rest of the official program
There are other events that last for several days, the time slots are wide so difficult to tell you what is the best time to go but here is the official complete schedule.
And of course, there will alos be water fights in the street and it will be difficult to get out without getting wet.There will probably be a“Water fight zone” in front of Thapae Gate also like last year.
I will write soon other posts on Songkran in Bangkok and the rest of Thailand and will share some photos and videos on D-Day. Keep in touch…
