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.