Thailand's Songkran Festival, celebrating the Thai New Year and official start of summer, runs April 13-16 this year. Splashing water is one of the main ways to celebrate, making it the most anticipated holiday of the year for many of Thailand's kids. Though clearly some adults enjoy it too.
World's biggest water fight? —
Thailand's Songkran Festival, celebrating the Thai New Year and official start of summer, runs April 13-16 this year. Splashing water is one of the main ways to celebrate, making it the most anticipated holiday of the year for many of Thailand's kids. Though clearly some adults enjoy it too.
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On the first day of festivities, families and friends celebrate by visiting temples and pouring water on each others' hands as a blessing. People also pour water -- seen as a way of washing away bad luck -- over Buddha statues.
World's biggest water fight? —
On the first day of festivities, families and friends celebrate by visiting temples and pouring water on each others' hands as a blessing. People also pour water -- seen as a way of washing away bad luck -- over Buddha statues.
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Over the years the throwing of water -- a symbol of cleansing and purification -- evolved into its current form as a nationwide H2O fight filled with festivals and parties. Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, has a reputation for holding the wildest Songkran festivities.
World's biggest water fight? —
Over the years the throwing of water -- a symbol of cleansing and purification -- evolved into its current form as a nationwide H2O fight filled with festivals and parties. Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, has a reputation for holding the wildest Songkran festivities.
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There is a downside to the revelry. Songkran is the deadliest time of year to be on the roads in Thailand. In the three days running up to this year's Songkran celebrations, April 11-13, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bangkokpost.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F404923%2Fmotorcycles-involved-in-76-of-accidents" target="_blank" target="_blank">government statistics</a> recorded 161 deaths and 1,640 injuries in 1,539 road accidents.
World's biggest water fight? —
There is a downside to the revelry. Songkran is the deadliest time of year to be on the roads in Thailand. In the three days running up to this year's Songkran celebrations, April 11-13, government statistics recorded 161 deaths and 1,640 injuries in 1,539 road accidents.
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Hardly a fair fight. Tourists take on a row of elephants in Thailand's Ayutthaya province.
World's biggest water fight? —
Hardly a fair fight. Tourists take on a row of elephants in Thailand's Ayutthaya province.
PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images
A Thai soldier gets in on the Songkran act in Thailand's southern Narathiwat Province.
World's biggest water fight? —
A Thai soldier gets in on the Songkran act in Thailand's southern Narathiwat Province.
MADAREE TOHLALA/AFP/Getty Images
Though Thailand's New Year celebrations are the most well-known, attracting tourists from around the region, Songkran is also celebrated in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
World's biggest water fight? —
Though Thailand's New Year celebrations are the most well-known, attracting tourists from around the region, Songkran is also celebrated in Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images
Wiping wet baby powder on fellow Songkran revelers is a big part of the Songkran festivities. Local critics of the holiday say Thailand needs to <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bangkokpost.com%2Fopinion%2Fopinion%2F404220%2Fcountdown-to-songkran-insanity" target="_blank" target="_blank">rethink the way it celebrates</a>, given water shortages are more common than in previous years and several areas of the country are prone to drought.
World's biggest water fight? —
Wiping wet baby powder on fellow Songkran revelers is a big part of the Songkran festivities. Local critics of the holiday say Thailand needs to rethink the way it celebrates, given water shortages are more common than in previous years and several areas of the country are prone to drought.
CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP/Getty Images
Who needs a high pressure hose? A tourist gets doused by an elephant during a street water battle in Thailand's Ayutthaya province.
World's biggest water fight? —
Who needs a high pressure hose? A tourist gets doused by an elephant during a street water battle in Thailand's Ayutthaya province.
PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images
In Bangkok, Khao San Road is one of the most popular places for tourists to join the Songkran festivities.
World's biggest water fight? —
In Bangkok, Khao San Road is one of the most popular places for tourists to join the Songkran festivities.
PORNCHAI KITTIWONGSAKUL/AFP/Getty Images
For some revelers, Songkran is as much about the fashion as it is the size of their gun. April is usually Thailand's hottest month of the year, which makes the Songkran water fights a welcome way to beat the heat.
World's biggest water fight? —
For some revelers, Songkran is as much about the fashion as it is the size of their gun. April is usually Thailand's hottest month of the year, which makes the Songkran water fights a welcome way to beat the heat.
Taylor Weidman/Getty Images