The celebrations for Songkran in the southern city of Nakhon Si Thammarat take on a distinctly Hindu feel with various colourful Brahmin ceremonies and rituals intertwined with the Buddhist traditions and water fun. So the city is worth visiting for Thai New Year to see a different side of Songkran and enjoy a unique local experience that is both uniquely Thai and uniquely southern.
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan
Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan is home to the famous Phra Phuttha Sihing Buddha image. At Songkran, people flock to the temple to bathe the statue and build sand pagodas in the courtyard.
The Nang Dan Festival
Every Songkran in Nakon Si Thammarat, the Nang Dan parade takes place. The parade is aimed at welcoming the god Shiva to earth once a year to bless the land and people. To celebrate this, the city park holds a festival and sound and light show and people to enjoy tasty food, entertainment and fun.
Nang Dan Parade and Swing Ceremony
The Nang Dan parade is aimed at engaging three important deities from the Hindu pantheon to greet the Lord Shiva during his stay. There is a parade of the gods’ images, a coulourful show telling the town’s history and the amazing swing ceremony.
