Songkran (pronounced sohng-krahn) is the traditional Thai New Year which is celebrated for three days in April by symbolically washing sins away and blessing friends with water. Young people have a fun time lying in ambush with buckets of water, huge water guns and hoses to get everyone soaking wet.
People also go to a wat (temple) to pray and give food to monks. They cleanse Buddha images by gently pouring scented water over them. In northern Thailand, people build stupa-shaped piles of sand and decorate them with colorful flags and flowers.
The most well-known of all Thai festivals, Songkran is for those who love a good water fight. It’s the official Thai New Year landing on April 13th to 15th each year. During the festival, the streets fill up with people looking to soak and get soaked with super-soakers in hand! Water is used as a symbol of cleansing, which is exactly what the Thai want to do to start the New Year.