Scenes from Songkran Water Festival 2024

Thousands of locals and tourists flocked to Bangkok’s streets from April 13 to 15 as Thailand ushered in the traditional New Year with water fights and other fun activities.

Amid the searing heat, revelers, many of whom were dressed in bright floral outfits, doused each other with water from toy water guns and buckets, believing that it would wash away the sins and bad luck from the previous year.

Only a few people avoided getting soaked.

Images taken by GMA Integrated News showed the streets of the Thai capital were packed with Songkran revelers by early afternoon, particularly in well-known tourist destinations like Silom, Siam Square, and Khao San Road.

Amid the sweltering heat, locals and tourists celebrated Songkran, or the Thai New Year, by splashing water on each other in the streets of Bangkok. pic.twitter.com/tvQNWh1fSr

— Virgil Lopez (@virgillopez) April 19, 2024

Others attended street parties, parades, and concerts featuring Thai artists.

Songkran, though, is more than just that.

Designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in December 2023 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Songkran is also a time for Thais to reunite with their families and pay their respects to older adults, ancestors, and images of Buddha.

At least 92.5% of Thailand’s 69.6 million people are Buddhists, according to a 2022 report by the US State Department.

”Songkran promotes community cooperation, unity, and forgiveness,” UNESCO said. ”Furthermore, by emphasizing the importance of older adults and of family, Songkran helps to combat loneliness and social isolation.”

Neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar also celebrate Songkran.

After UNESCO recognized Songkran, the Thai government decided to lengthen the customary three-day celebration to 21 days this year, from April 1 to 21.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects domestic tourism earnings from the 21-day festival to reach 52.5 billion baht (US$1.42 billion), up from 13 billion baht (US$352 million) in 2023, when COVID-19 restrictions were already lifted.  — VBL, GMA Integrated News