Thailand's new year begins with a splash

Thailand's new year begins with a splash

THAILAND: Famed Songkran water festival, which commemorates the kingdom's traditional lunar new year, had an early start this year in the capital on Sunday.

Normally a three-day party celebrated right across the country from April 13 to April 15, this year's festival will be the biggest ever, kicking off on Sunday and continuing until Bangkok's 220th anniversary celebrations on April 21.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has said that the traditional merry-making known for its raucous water-splashing will draw 1.7 million domestic and international tourists and generate revenue of some 11.4 billion baht (US$262 million).

Songkran, derived from the Sanskrit word for "pass" or "move", commemorates the completion of the Zodiacal cycle, TAT said. It is a time for the faithful to bathe Buddha images in holy water, pay homage to ancestors and offer alms to monks. --AFP