Thai New Year or Songkran, also known as Songkran Festival, Songkran Splendours, is the Thai New Year's national holiday. Songkran is on 13 April every year, but the holiday period extends from 14 to 15 April. In 2018 the Thai cabinet extended the festival nationwide to seven days, 9–16 April, to enable citizens to travel home for the holiday. In 2019, the holiday was observed 9–16 April as 13 April fell on a Saturday. In 2024, Songkran was extended to almost the entire month, starting on the first of April, and ending on the twenty-first, departing from the traditional 3-day format. And with the New Year of many calendars of Southeast and South Asia, in keeping with the Buddhist calendar and also coincides with New Year in Hindu calendar such as Vishu, Bihu, Pohela Boishakh, Pana Sankranti, Vaisakhi. The New Year takes place at around the same time as the new year celebrations of many regions of South Asia like China, India, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
New Year celebration, Rot Nam Dam Hua, a traditional celebration of elders
People performing water pouring on Buddha statues during Songkran in Wat Pho, Bangkok
A girl cleaning a Buddha statue in front of a Temple during Songkran, Koh Samui
Thai dancers in traditional dress perform a cleansing ritual for US Navy sailors during Songkran festival.
Vaisakhi, also known as Baisakhi, marks the first day of the month of Vaisakh and is traditionally celebrated annually on 13 April and sometimes 14 April.
It is seen as a spring harvest celebration primarily in Punjab and Northern India.
Whilst it is culturally significant as a festival of harvest, in many parts of India, Vaisakhi is also the date for the Indian Solar New Year.
Sikh procession in Birmingham, England.
Bathing in rivers is a Vaisakhi tradition
Baba Ram Thaman Shrine
Historical Basakhi Mela of Dogras (1950) in Harihar/Mahabilkeshwar mahadev, Balor (Billawar, Durgaradesa)