The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people and wash their “bad fortune” away. People paying visit to the temples collected some of the water after it had been poured over Buddha statues for cleansing and then used this “blessed” water to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring it on the shoulder.
The “gently pouring over the shoulder” soon evolved into probably the world’s most massive water fight with the younger generations. Since April is also the hottest month in Thailand, it was also a good way to relieve the heat.
While Songkran is celebrated all over Thailand (as well as neighboring South-East Asian countries), it is most famous in Chiang Mai thanks to the presence of a moat around the old city walls, which means endless water supply for 3 days.
Here are a few shots I’ve gathered in the last 3 years from celebrating Songkran from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.