Nonetheless, this is not to suggest that the religious undertones are gone entirely. Thai people will spend a portion of Songkran, visiting Wats (Buddhist monasteries) to give alms and ask for forgiveness, before focusing on what they hope the coming year will bring. As with Western culture, Thai people make New Year’s resolutions and not only cleanse themselves, but cleanse their homes with a thorough housekeeping session.
The northern capital of Chiang Mai plays host to the biggest celebrations of Songkran, with some festivities reputedly spanning six days. It is also more common in the north of Thailand for people to collect sand, which is taken to their local monastery. This sand — symbolic of dirt carried on their feet for the past year — is used to replenish the monastery before being sculpted into piles and decorated with colourful, celebratory flags.