Historically speaking, Songkran festival is not originally an indigenous festival of this part of  Indo-Chinese Peninsula for the name plainly betrays itself as of Indian origin. It can be traced back to Lord Buddha's lifetime.

               The origin of Songkran and the birth of Songkran maidens are described in a chapter of Buddhist sermons called “Sermon on Maha Songkran,” generally known among the Mon, Thai, Burmese, Lao and Chinese Buddhists etc.

                As a matter of fact, there are five countries that celebrate Songkran festivals in Indo-China namely Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Southern China. 

               The Indian myth of Songkran and related ceremonies were diffused to Thailand through Burmese influence in the 11th century A.D. Since then, the traditional New Year has been observed in the ancient Lanna Kingdom (Chiang Mai) as the prime site, from which it spread to other  regions of Thailand.

               Songkran refers to the monthly change in the astrological solar calendar. Unlike other traditional festivals which are usually linked to the lunar calendar, Songkran is fixed by astrological calculation when the sun moves out of the sign of Pisces into the sign of Aries. 

               When the sun leaves Pisces to be in Aries, the occasion is described as Maha Songkran or Major Songkran.  But the Thais call it simply Songkran  for it is the only one they know and in which they take interest  The Thais use this heavenly phenomenon to mark the beginning of a new year.