The spirit of renewal, gratitude, and togetherness came alive at Assumption University of Thailand (AU) as the university community celebrated Songkran – Thingyan Festival 2026 at the Suvarnabhumi Campus on April 9, 2026, with selected activities beginning on April 7.
Organized through the collaboration of the Office of Thai Art and Culture, Student Affairs and the AU Myanmar Student Community (AUMSC), the celebration reflected the shared cultural heart of both Thailand’s Songkran and Myanmar’s Thingyan. More than a festival, the event served as a meaningful reminder that the New Year in this part of the world was not only about water and celebration, but also about respect, merit-making, reconciliation, and fresh beginnings. A little splash, a lot of soul.
The Spirit of Songkran and Thingyan
At its core, Songkran has long been celebrated as a season of cleansing and renewal. Traditionally observed as the Thai New Year, it has invited people to wash away misfortune, express gratitude to elders, make merit, and begin anew with kindness and humility. In the same spirit, Myanmar’s Thingyan has marked a joyful and symbolic transition into a new year, blending community, devotion, and festive water traditions that represented purification and blessing.
At AU, this shared celebration highlighted the beauty of cultural understanding across the ASEAN community. By bringing Thai and Myanmar traditions together in one campus event, the festival created space for students, faculty, staff, and guests to experience the deeper values behind these beloved New Year observances: respect for tradition, appreciation for community, and hope for the future.
A Celebration Across Several Days
Members of the AU community took part in the sprinkling of scented water onto a Buddha image at Sri Rattanagosin Gate. This quiet and meaningful activity offered a traditional way to pay respect and welcome the New Year with peace and reflection.
The main celebration on April 9 began with alms giving to Buddhist monks at the Lobby of the Cathedral of Learning, reinforcing the festival’s spiritual foundation and its emphasis on merit-making.
Later in the morning, participants joined a Traditional Thai and Myanmar Dessert Workshop near True Coffee, AU Plaza, where culture was shared through flavor, memory, and hands-on learning.
In the afternoon, the community gathered for one of the most heartfelt traditions of the season. Registration for the Water Pouring Ceremony. at the Lobby of the CL Building, followed by the Water Pouring Ceremony to AU Administrators. This cherished ritual symbolized respect, gratitude, and the passing of blessings from one generation to the next.
Refreshments were served at the Lobby of the Cathedral of Learning, before the celebration shifted into a more festive mood.
Guests were encouraged to wear Thai fabric or national costume, adding even more color and meaning to a celebration rooted in heritage, harmony, and hope.
A Festival That Reflected AU’s International Spirit
Songkran – Thingyan Festival 2026 did more than mark the arrival of a new year. It reflected Assumption University of Thailand’s international identity as a learning community where cultural appreciation, mutual respect, and shared traditions continued to thrive. By honoring both Thai and Myanmar customs in one celebration, AU showcased the richness of cultural exchange and the enduring power of community spirit on campus.
WRITER : THE AU LIBRARY
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