Locals and foreign tourists armed with water pistols splashed out to celebrate Thailand's traditional new year. The annual Songkran festival symbolises the washing away of misfortunes and welcoming the new year with a fresh start.
During Songkran, people roam the streets with buckets of water, hoses and supersoakers, drenching random passers-by to wish them well for the year.
The festival runs from April 13 to 15, the hottest month of the year in Thailand, so a bit of water may provide welcome relief. However, as these photos of a huge celebration in Bangkok show, there's more than a bit of water.
