Thailand celebrates the annual Songkran water festival a day early this year as part of the government's push to boost tourism and economy, Reuters reported. The Songkran holiday which marks the Thai New Year, will run for 5 days from April 12-16.
In photos: Thailand water festival
![Thais use toy water guns to douse others with water as a cleansing ritual for Songkran, Bangkok, April 13, 2024.](https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0aff-0242-5df1-08dc5c86d46d_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Thais use toy water guns to douse others with water as a cleansing ritual for Songkran, Bangkok, April 13, 2024.
![Thai officer spray water from fire hose during the Songkran water festival to celebrate the Thai New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, April 13, 2024.](https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0a00-0242-6702-08dc5c89a7e2_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Thai officer spray water from fire hose during the Songkran water festival to celebrate the Thai New Year in Bangkok, Thailand, April 13, 2024.
![Thais use toy water guns to douse others with water as a cleansing ritual for Songkran, Bangkok, April 13, 2024.](https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0aff-0242-6494-08dc5c86ed2a_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Thais use toy water guns to douse others with water as a cleansing ritual for Songkran, Bangkok, April 13, 2024.
![People enjoy the Songkran festival in Bangkok, April 13, 2024.](https://gdb.voanews.com/01000000-0aff-0242-c9e2-08dc5c86e0a4_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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People enjoy the Songkran festival in Bangkok, April 13, 2024.