Water-spraying elephants, raves and boisterous, street-blocking water fights — Thailand’s Buddhist new year arrived with a splash Saturday, a once calm festival now celebrated with a more raucous edge. Paying respects to elders and sprinkling water over figures of Buddha at local temples are some of the traditions of the three-day new year celebration — known as Songkran — but the holiday also has a rowdier side involving alcohol-fuelled revelry among its youth. Thais and foreigners sporting floral shirts arm themselves with colourful water pistols and protective goggles, engaging in water fights that bring entire streets to a standstill. Authorities had issued warnings beforehand on modesty, saying that nudity and provocative clothing will be prohibited. There are no such restrictions however on summary drenchings.
Thai new year splashes in with water fights, raves
Published on: April 13, 2019 10:38 PM