Thailand kicks off Songkran festival, celebrating the new year with water fights in the streets

(13 Apr 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bangkok, Thailand - 13 April 2024
1. Various of people splashing each other with water as they take part in water festival
STORYLINE:
It's water festival time in Thailand where many are marking the country's traditional New Year, splashing each other with colourful water guns and buckets, even as this year the Southeast Asian nation marks record-high temperatures.
The festival, known as Songkran in Thailand, is a three-day shindig that starts Saturday and informally extends for a whole week, allowing people to travel for family celebrations.
The holiday is also celebrated under different names in neighboring Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, which like Thailand have populations that are predominantly Theravada Buddhist.
Songkran is immensely popular - predicted this year to attract more than 500,000 foreign tourists and generate more than 24 billion baht ($655 million) in revenue, according to the state tourism agency.
Past Thai governments have been reluctant to call for dialling down the fun even during crises such as droughts and the pandemic.
The festival usually falls at the hottest time of the year when temperatures can creep above 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
But this year, the unusual heat wave, with expected record temperatures for the next few months, has triggered apprehension.
The United Nations Children’s Fund warned Thursday the sweltering weather could put millions of children's lives at risk, asking caregivers to take extra precautions.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel [phone] Email: [e-mail].
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...