Celebrate Songkran on Koh Samui - AsiaRooms.com

AsiaRooms.com divulges people heading to Koh Samui over the next few weeks will be arriving as the island prepares for Songkran, Thailand's traditional new year festival.

The celebration takes place from April 13th to 15th, falling during the country's warmest time of the year at the end of the dry season.

Perhaps for this reason, one of the main activities people using accommodation in Thailand during Songkran will notice is the throwing of water, which can help people to keep cool during the heat of the day.

Historical accounts suggest that the practice originates from monks blessing people by splashing a small amount of water over them, but whatever the reason for it, the streets of Thai resorts such as Koh Samui can often resemble an all-out water fight on the days of the festival.

Locals roam the streets with water pistols, hoses or large buckets and take delight in drenching passers-by, with foreign visitors often encouraged to participate in the fun.

However, the festival is also traditionally a time for Thai people to visit their families and pay respect to their elders.

Some will make resolutions for the new year and many people also use Songkran as an opportunity to thoroughly clean their houses, including washing any Buddha images kept in the home.

For people staying in accommodation in Koh Samui, the festival should represent an opportunity to experience one of Thailand's most joyous celebrations.