Thailand – Thousands of citizens celebrate Thai New Year’s “Songkran”

Chiang Mai – Thailand 13/04/2019

Thousands of citizens celebrated the Thai New Year’s known as “Songkran”, which is one of the most important Thai holidays celebrated according to the Buddhist calendar. The term “Songkran” translates to “Astrological pathway” as it coincides with the sun moving into Aries. On this holiday, Thai people go out in parades visiting temples to pray and perform their religious rituals encompassed in pouring water on holy symbols and statues in order to purify them, as they believe that water washes away sins, brings luck and it represents an invitation for heavy rain. The celebration marks the end of drought and beginning of monsoon rainfall, which is vital for agriculture, especially rice harvest.