Songkran: Thailand celebrates Buddhist new year with water fights

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightEPAThais are celebrating this year's Songkran festival, also known as the Buddhist New Year
The festival, held between 13 and 15 April in Thailand, is also celebrated in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar
Songkran is often referred to as the biggest water fight in the world
Images from across Thailand show large crowds of people taking part in festivities.The holiday was traditionally marked by visiting family
members and pouring water over Buddha statues.Image copyrightEPAIn this image, people sprinkle scented water over a Buddha statue
Throwing water is meant to wash away bad luck from the previous year
Image copyrightReutersIn this image (above) elephants and people can be seen spraying water
Image copyrightReutersHundreds of thousands of tourists head to Thailand every year, mainly to Bangkok and larger cities to experience
Songkran
Image copyrightAFPMany people can be seen in bright floral clothes as they take part in the celebrations
In this image (below) a young boy sits on a person's shoulders as he is sprayed with water
Image copyrightReutersOn 15 April, the first day of Thai New Year, people gather at temples to offer food and new robes to the temple monks
Image copyrightAFPAll photos copyright