The Songkran festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day from 13 to 15 April. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia.
The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. Thais roam the streets with containers of water or water guns (sometimes mixed with mentholated talc), or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby. This, however, was not always the main activity of this festival. Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends, neighbors, and monks. (wikipedia)
1. A child gets water splashed during Thai New Year celebrations in Prachinburi, east of Bangkok, Wednesday, April 13, 2011. AP / Wason Wanichakorn
2. Thais engage in battle with buckets of water and squirt guns during Thai New Year celebrations Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Bangkok. The water throwing and other celebrations, which takes over most Thai cities and villages, last for three days. AP / David Longstreat
3. Children take part in the water splashing rite during Thai New Year celebrations in Prachinburi, east of Bangkok, Wednesday, April 13, 2011. AP / Wason Wanichakorn
4. Thais engage in battle with water guns in an attempt to set a world record for water splashing during Thai New Year celebrations Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Bangkok. AP / David Longstreath
5. A Thai model and others engage in battle with water guns in an attempt to set a world record for water splashing during Thai New Year celebrations Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Bangkok. AP / David Longstreath
6. Thais engage in battle with water guns in an attempt to set a world record for water splashing during Thai New Year celebrations Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Bangkok. AP / David Longstreath
7. Thais engage in battle with buckets of water and squirt guns during Thai New Year celebrations Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Bangkok. AP / David Longstreath
8. Thais engage in battle with buckets of water and squirt guns during Thai New Year celebrations Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Bangkok. AP / David Longstreath
9. Thais engage in battle with water guns in an attempt to set a world record for water splashing during Thai New Year celebrations Wednesday, April 13, 2011 in Bangkok. AP / David Longstreath
10. Thais celebrate Songkran, marking the Thai New Year, by spraying each other with water in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat on April 13, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Madaree Tohlala
11. Thai people celebrate the Songkran water festival marking the Thai new year in Khao-Yam road in Thailand's restive southern province of Narathiwat on April 13, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Madaree Tohlala
12. Thai people celebrate the Songkran water festival marking the Thai new year in Khao-Yam road in Thailand's restive southern province of Narathiwat on April 13, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Madaree Tohlal
13. Thai people celebrate the Songkran water festival marking the Thai new year in Khao-Yam road in Thailand's restive southern province of Narathiwat on April 13, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Madaree Tohlala
14. Thai people celebrate the Songkran water festival marking the Thai new year in Khao-Yam road in Thailand's restive southern province of Narathiwat on April 13, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Madaree Tohlala
15. Young Thais play water battle games to mark the start of the Songkran festival, at a shopping mall in Bangkok on April 13, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pornchai Kittiwongsakul
16. Foreigns and Thais play water games together to mark the start of the Songkran festival, at a shopping mall in Bangkok on April 13, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pornchai Kittiwongsakul
17. A foreign tourist is splashed with water by a young boy as people come out to mark the start of the Songkran festival, at a shopping mall in Bangkok on April 13, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pornchai Kittiwongsakul
18. Thais celebrate Songkran, marking the Thai New Year, by spraying each other with water in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat on April 13, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Madaree Tohlala
19. Thai children and foreign tourists spray water on each other on Khaosan road during Songkran festival in Bangkok on April 12, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pornchai Kittiwongsakul
20. Foreign tourists play with water on Khaosan road during Songkran festival in Bangkok on April 12, 2011. AFP/ Getty Images / Pornchai Kittiwongsakul
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The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. Thais roam the streets with containers of water or water guns (sometimes mixed with mentholated talc), or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby. This, however, was not always the main activity of this festival. Songkran was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends, neighbors, and monks. (wikipedia)
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