The Songkran Festival: Celebrating the Thai New Year
The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival.
- Thai locals and foreigners take part in a city-wide water fight on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Thai beauty contestants ride bicycles down the street during a Songkran parade on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Thai locals and foreigners take part in a city-wide water fight on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Thai locals and foreigners take part in a city-wide water fight on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Thai locals and foreigners take part in a city-wide water fight on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Large waterguns are sold from stalls all over the city during the Songkran festival on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Thai locals and foreigners take part in a city-wide water fight on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Thai locals and foreigners take part in a city-wide water fight on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Thai performers take part in a Songkran parade on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Thai locals and foreigners take part in a city-wide water fight on April 13, 2015 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Songkran festival, marking the traditional Thai New Year, is celebrated each year from April 13 to 15. The throwing of water was traditionally a sign of respect and well wishing during the festival. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)
- Revelers take part in water fights as they celebrate the Thai traditional New Year in a water festival known as Songkran, at Silom road in Bangkok on April 13, 2015. (AFP Photo/Christophe Archambault)
- Revelers take part in water fights as they celebrate the Thai traditional New Year in a water festival known as Songkran, at Silom road in Bangkok on April 13, 2015. (AFP Photo/Christophe Archambault)
- Revelers take part in water fights as they celebrate the Thai traditional New Year in a water festival known as Songkran, at Silom road in Bangkok on April 13, 2015. (AFP Photo/Christophe Archambault)
- Revelers take part in water fights as they celebrate the Thai traditional New Year in a water festival known as Songkran, at Silom road in Bangkok on April 13, 2015. (AFP Photo/Christophe Archambault)
- Revelers are covered with foam as they celebrate the Thai traditional New Year in a water festival known as Songkran, at Silom road in Bangkok on April 13, 2015. (AFP Photo/Christophe Archambault)
- Revelers splash water on each other as they celebrate the Thai traditional New Year in a water festival known as Songkran in Bangkok on April 13, 2015. (AFP Photo/Christophe Archambault)
- Revelers take part in water fights as they celebrate the Thai traditional New Year in a water festival known as Songkran, at Silom road in Bangkok on April 13, 2015. (AFP Photo/Christophe Archambault)
- A boy reacts as a bucket of water is splashed on him during the Songkran water festival to celebrate Thai New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, April 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
- A tourist tries to escape as water is fired at him during the Songkran festival to celebrate the Thai New Year on Samui Island in Surat Thani province, Thailand, Monday, April 13, 2015. The Songkran festival, also known as the Thai New Year or Thailand Water Festival, was originally celebrated as a way for the Thai people to sprinkle water on their family members and elders for good fortune and pay their respects to images of the beloved Buddha. Today, the festival has transitioned into three days of water play fun, splashing locals and visitors alike with buckets of water, water hoses and super soakers as they gather in the streets. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
- People riding on a motorbike react as a boy splashes water on them during traditional Thai New Year celebrations or Songkran water festival in Bangkok Monday, April 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
- People on the back of a truck react as a bucket of water is thrown on them during a traditional Thai New Year celebrations or Songkran water festival in Bangkok Monday, April 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
- A Thai woman splashes water on people on the back of a truck during the Songkran water festival to celebrate Thai New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, April 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)