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Songkran: The world's biggest water fight

Lynn Brown
Getty Images People riding a tuk tuk squirt water pistols (Credit: Getty Images)Getty Images
(Credit: Getty Images)

For three days every year, Thailand transforms into a wet and wild party. But this ancient festival is far more than just a raucous good time.

Every year from 13-15 April, Thais across the country cool off and celebrate new beginnings with what is arguably the nation's largest and most important festival: Songkran. Tied to the Thai New Year and the close of the annual rice harvest season, this annual celebration is all about purification, honouring elders and fostering a sense of renewal. However, it's most well-known among travellers as a raucous country-wide splash fest.

"The most famous part of the festival is the massive water fights," explained Worapa Angkhasirisap,director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. "People of all ages take to the streets armed with water guns and buckets."

Viewers of the latest season of The White Lotus recently got a glimpse of this when three unaware travellers were dropped in the middle of a town-wide Songkran celebration. "Why is everyone carrying those guns">window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a', container: 'taboola-below-article', placement: 'Below Article', target_type: 'mix' });