Younger family members poured water over the hands of elders to honor them, show respect and ask for blessings. At the heart of the festival, the Buddha statue immersed in water represents the purification and renewal for the coming year to wash away bad luck and bring good fortune. 

Marking the start of the traditional solar calendar in Thailand, the Thai New Year Festival, Songkran, echoed throughout the Thai community with over 400 people in attendance at Wat Sacramento Buddhavanaram. Children return home to pay respect and show gratitude to parents and elders.

“If you have problems with family or friends, it’s a time to ask for forgiveness or forgive others,” Annie Haskins, President of the Wat Sacramento Buddhavanaram temple, said. “The holiday brings family and friends together.”

During the three-day Songkran festival, visitors poured water over a Buddha statue to symbolize renewal and gently over the hands of monks and elders as a gesture of respect and to receive blessings. The temple grounds came alive with rows of food stalls, traditional water blessing ceremonies, cultural dance performances, and joyful community parade.

“For Buddhists, Songkran is a time to gain merit and pass cultural traditions to younger generations. We want to share Thai culture with everyone who walks through the gates—whether you’re Thai or not, ” Haskins said. “This event is about carrying on what our ancestors started—merit-making, giving blessings, respecting elders, and celebrating through food, prayer, and music.”

Songkran has been celebrated as the traditional Thai and Lao New Year since 1888. 

The Water Festival, a traditional part of Songkran, is held in April, Thailand’s hottest month.  Younger generations pour water over the elder’s hand as a symbol of gratitude and to ask for blessings. Children enjoy the celebration by splashing water on each other for fun.

“In Thailand, it’s really hot, so people pour water on each other with buckets and water guns. We never know if it’ll rain,” Haskins said.  “In Thailand, you worry about heat. Here, you worry about rain.”

Preparing for a large-scale event poses challenges for the temple’s Songkran celebration.  

“It takes at least two to three months to prepare,” Haskins said. “We have to find performers, arrange folk dances, traditional music, and set up food stalls.”

The temple continues to build awareness of Thai and Lao traditions in the U.S.  In 2024, Songkran received official recognition by the California State Assembly through Assembly Concurrent Resolution (ACR) 171, introduced by Assemblymember Evan Low. The recognition followed UNESCO’s designation of Songkran as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2023​.

“Now more people are recognizing these cultures in America,” Haskins said. “Before, people didn’t know much about small countries like ours. Now, it’s expanding, and that’s a good thing.”

Chutatip Vajanaphanich is an annual local attendee who raises money for the temple. 

“To show them how proud we are of our country, […] we have good people, smiling, helping each other. It means a lot. We are very happy to celebrate,” Vajanaphanich said.