Gallery: Songkran's water fights, parties and old school traditions

Fri, 04/13/2012 - 13:15 — Anonymous Nationwide water fights, traditional
Buddhist rituals, parties, parades and plenty of alcohol.  The Thai new
year, better known as Songkran, is now officially under way.  Running from
April 13-16 this year -- some cities stretch the celebrations out for a full
week -- Songkran marks the beginning of the new solar year and the summer
season in Thailand.  Though Songkran is more famous for the huge water
fights that rock the streets of Chiang Mai and popular Bangkok tourist zones
like Silom and Khao San Road, there is a traditional side to the event.  On
the first day of festivities, families and friends celebrate Songkran by
visiting temples and pouring water on each others' hands as a blessing, to
start the year filled with good luck. People also pour water -- seen as a way
of washing away bad luck -- over Buddha statues.  Over the years, those
traditions have evolved into a nationwide water fight, a welcome form of
relief given that April is the hottest month of the year. read more