Revellers usher in Songkran with water pistols, buckets of water

PETALING JAYA: Shrieks of laughter filled the air at the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple here as revellers gathered to celebrate Songkran, the Thai New Year, yesterday morning.
Hundreds turned up at the Buddhist temple located near Jalan Gasing here to celebrate the festival.
Armed with water pistols, buckets of water and assorted water dispersal equipment, the scene quickly turned into something akin to a water theme park as those in attendance took part in the festivities.
Revellers doused each other as they laughed and wished each other "Sawatdee pi mai" (happy new year) with locals and tourists joining in the fun.
Songkran is also known as the "Water Festival" due to the act of dousing other people with water during the celebration.
The splashing and pouring of water is part of the cleansing ritual to usher in the new year and a symbol of hope for blessings as the old things and bad luck are washed away.
The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists in Malaysia as well as the Siamese community in the country.