Traditional costumes, elephants highlight Thailand's Songkran Festival

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Thais and foreign tourists alike donned traditional Thai costumes for Songkran celebrations, an annual three-day water festival celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's day.

This year, the festivity falls from Friday to Sunday. The word "Songkran" comes from Sanskrit, which means "astrological passage" and indicates a transformation or change.

Elephants spray water on tourists during a celebration for the upcoming Songkran Festival in Ayutthaya, Thailand, April 11, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

The Songkran Festival is often referred to as the world's biggest water fight. For many years, in the glorious country-wide celebration, Thailand’s elephants played a central role. They are painted with different colors, decorated with various items, and paraded down major streets.

This year, Thai traditional costumes have become the eye-catching characteristic of Songkran. In Lumphini Park of Bangkok, many Thai people took photos in Thai traditional costume while in Silom Road, Siam business district and other places, many Thais, dressed in Thai traditional costume and armed with water guns, participated in the water splashing carnival.

People take part in water gun battles during celebrations for Songkran Festival, Thailand's traditional New Year Festival, in Siam shopping district of Bangkok, Thailand, April 13, 2018. /Xinhua Photo

Tao, a Thai woman hoped that the costumes could help Thai people "realize the beauty of their traditional culture."

Tom, another Thai woman in traditional costume, said she was influenced by the soap opera "Love Destiny" or "Bupphesaniwat." She felt that wearing Thai traditional costumes also helps conserve and inherit traditional culture.

Soap opera "Love Destiny" or "Bupphesaniwat". / SOHU Photo

Bupphesaniwat, a TV opera about a modern Thai woman's soul going back to the Ayutthaya Era, dwelling in the body of her twin sister in the past life and falling in love with a handsome noble then, has been a popular show in the country.

The Thai government has also encouraged civil servants and the public to wear costumes for the new year to carry on the tradition.

Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he hopes that Thai traditional costumes could become a new trend in during Songkran.

(With inputs from Xinhua News Agency)