The traditional white powder smeared on people during Songkran is din sor pong.
Din sor pong is a fine white clay powder used in festive play during Thailand’s New Year celebrations. Alongside water, it became part of the playful customs associated with public Songkran festivities, especially in crowded urban celebrations. Participants may mark one another’s faces or bodies with the powder as a friendly gesture.
The custom is sometimes confused with thanaka, a fragrant yellowish paste widely associated with Myanmar and parts of mainland Southeast Asia. Thanaka is not the traditional Thai Songkran powder identified in English accounts of the festival.
Modern celebrations vary considerably by location. Some communities restrict powder use for safety or cleanliness, while others preserve it as part of the festival’s playful atmosphere.