Brahma is the Hindu deity traditionally honored in the Songkran legend of Nang Songkran.
The legend tells of Thao Kabinlaphrom, a figure identified with Brahma, who loses a riddle contest to the young Dhammapala. Because of the conditions of the contest, Kabinlaphrom must lose his head. His seven daughters, known as the Nang Songkran, take turns carrying the head during the annual cycle.
Each daughter is associated with a particular day of the week on which Songkran may begin, and traditional illustrations often show her with distinctive clothing, jewelry, and objects. The story helps explain why Nang Songkran processions and images appear in Thai New Year celebrations.
The legend combines Hindu-derived figures with Thai Buddhist cultural traditions. Brahma should not be confused with the Buddhist creator figure Brahma found in Buddhist cosmology; the Songkran story specifically uses the Hindu-derived name and narrative of Thao Kabinlaphrom.