The origins of the Kong Khao ceremony are hazy, but it has been held during Songkran for generations to ask for the gods’ protection and blessings. In times past, villagers believed that guardian spirits and angels watched over them, and at the time of the New Year they offered food in the belief that the spirits would be pleased and that happiness and prosperity would be assured for another year. It also is a way to bring the community together in peace and harmony, something sorely lacking in Thailand these days.