SONGKRAN: ANNUAL WATER FESTIVAL

Today the Thais celebrate the Songkran Festival or Water Festival.  This festival is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day on April 13.  During Songkran one of the popular practice is the throwing of water.  I was reminded of this festival when Annie brought me to visit an exquisite Buddhist temple in Penang. 
I read from the Internet that the throwing of water was originally a way to pay respect to people, by capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddhas for cleansing and then using this "blessed" water to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring it on the shoulder.   In a way being splashed with water is to cleanse ones body of bad luck.