Songkran festival
&Quot;It will soon be the Thai water festival of Songkran," one Thailand Tourism document explained at the time. "The normally quiet and respectful Thais go a little crazy at Songkran and arm themselves with water pistols, hoses and buckets to soak anyone and everyone they see."If you go out on to the streets for three or four days of the festival, you most certainly will get wet and perhaps be smeared with white powder. Try to keep your temper and smile. Unlikely as it seems, this is part of an ancient tradition of paying respect to elders."
Songkran is like Australia's Christmas and New Year's Eve all rolled into one, and the locals are given days off work and school so they can string together enough time to go home and celebrate the occasion with family.
As well as the public water fights, the Thais will visit the temple, conduct solemn water ceremonies with their relations, buy new clothes and exchange gifts, visit friends they don't often see and eat celebratory feasts.
