Later, there emerged the habit of gently sprinkling scented water on the shoulder or back of friends as you wished them Sawasdee Pee Mai (Happy New Year!). From these humble beginnings has now evolved the current practice of the liberal and vigorous throwing of water; drenching, soaking and dowsing any and all who venture forth during the four days of the Songgran Festival, from morning until sundown. No one is immune, not even the participants in the traditional Songgran parade, which ends at the official residence of the Governor of Chiangmai, nor the governor himself, who gets drenched when he and his wife address the assembled sopping-wet marchers at the conclusion of the parade.
Nowadays the focus of Songkran has become the wholesale water play throughout the four days of the event. It is a wet and wild Songkran water throwing. Inside the city limits water play is restricted to the official days of the festival, but rural children dowse unwary motorcycle riders at country road intersections for as long as two weeks in the days surrounding the festival.
The gentle customs of former times have changed, or even gone ballistic in the present day Songkran festival. Come on get into the spirit of things. Get wet, "keep a cool heart" as the Thai say, and enjoy one of Thailand's more frenetic, fun festivals.