What is Songkran?
[[File:Songkran in Wat Kungthapao 05.jpg|thumb|Monks receiving blessing at a temple]] '''Songkran''' is a [[festival]] held every year in [[Thailand]] on April 13. This is Thailand's New Year's party. It celebrates the traditional [[New Year]] in the Thai calendar. The festival lasts all over the country for 3 days. However, in the northern city of Chiang Mai, it is six days. Long ago, Thai people used a different calendar from other places in the world. Their year started around April 13. Now, their year starts on January 1, but they still celebrate the New Year from April 13 to April 15. People celebrate Songkran by throwing [[water]] at each other on the streets. It is exciting. It is also known as the '''Water Festival'''. Almost everyone gets wet, even the police. People put water on old people's hands. The only people who do not get wet are monks and babies. People throw water for many reasons. The most important one is to have a clean body and mind for the New Year. In Thailand, it is very hot at that time of year. So, people do not get angry when they get wet. People believe that water will wash away bad [[luck]]. It is also a time to visit family and give [[gift]]s. People go to the [[temple]] to pray and give food to [[monk]]s. They also clean the [[Buddha]] images in temples with water and [[perfume]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/special_event/songkran/index.html |title=Thai New Year |access-date=2009-02-02 |archive-date=2009-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129021042/http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/special_event/songkran/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In Thailand, most people are Buddhist, so they keep statues of Buddha. On April 14, people dance and sing in the streets. They also carry their statues. They throw water at the Buddha statues to clean them. The water smells nice because it has flowers in it. The streets smell good during Songkran. Sometimes there is a contest to choose the most beautiful woman. And the legend of the important ladies