Thailand celebrates Buddhist New Year Songkran with excited tourists

Thailand celebrates the start of the Buddhist New Year festival with elephants spraying water on tourists. (Photo: AP)

Tourists take part in New Year celebrations in Thailand on the eve of Songkran. (Photo: AP)

Tourists splash water to an elephant, ahead of the Buddhist New Year, known as Songkran, in Ayutthaya province, central Thailand. (Photo: AP)

With assist from its mahouts, elephants blow water from its trunk to tourists on motor-tricycle or Tuk Tuk, ahead of the Buddhist New Year. (Photo: AP)

Elephants greet tourist with a splash of water in Thailand ahead of the Buddhist New Year. (Photo: AP)

A tourist kisses an elephant after she painted the elephant ahead of Songkran. (Photo: AP)

Elephants blow water on tourists taking part in the Songkran celebrations. (Photo: AP)

Mahouts and their elephants take part in the Buddhist New Year festival Songkran. (Photo: AP)