Hi everybody.

Is it true that this year Songkran festival in Chiang Mai will last 9 days?

Local told me 5 days.

Basically one can't get out of their place during the day unless inside a car.

Say what 9 days, you mean the party will be 9 days Songkran as it is realy celebrated is only 3 days

 

The Songkran festival is, therefore, a celebration of the New Year in accordance with the solar calendar. The celebration covers a period of three days: 13 April is regarded as Maha Songkran, the day that the sun moves into Aries on the zodiac or the last day of the old year. The next day, 14 April is called Wan Nao, the transitional day between the old and the new years, and 15 April is called Wan Thaloeng Sok (Thai: วันเถลิงศก 'to begin a new era or year'), New Year's day itself.^[6]

My barber told me it starts on April 9 and ends on 16th? 

The duration is from the first day you get doused until the last day you get doused depending on when and where one is. 
Always a big party at the Sankampang government office complex, big open venue lots of people and doesn’t feel overly crowded. And not to mention just about everywhere there will be a big gig going on????

What happens to signify the start and end?  Lots of different views about that.

Based upon hazy recollection of years past, it normally begins a day or two early and ends a day late.

 

If that holds true this year, Songkran festivities in CM would likely be 11-16 April.  (Officially, Songkran is 13-15 April.)

On 3/11/2023 at 10:04 PM, TheAppletons said:

Based upon hazy recollection of years past, it normally begins a day or two early and ends a day late.

 

If that holds true this year, Songkran festivities in CM would likely be 11-16 April.  (Officially, Songkran is 13-15 April.)

Add in the weekend and an extra day to compensate for the Saturday.

5 minutes ago, Maybole said:

Add in the weekend and an extra day to compensate for the Saturday.

 

 

The last day of Songkran in Naklua is 19th, Pattaya 19th and Bang Saray is 20th.

 

(apologies, just seen that this thread is Chiang Mai specific)

1 minute ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

The last day of Songkran in Naklua is 19th, Pattaya 19th and Bang Saray is 20th.

I think OP just wanted to know the dates for Chiang Mai.

On 3/11/2023 at 8:15 PM, Dante99 said:

What happens to signify the start and end?  Lots of different views about that.

It varies from village to village. Some people like to start squirting water a few days before until a few days after 

15th - 17th, depending on where you are in town and if the beer selling window is open...

One of my favorites from 2012 and no, it wasn't a setup!