Splashing into Songkran: A Visual Journey Through Thailand's Water Festival

We're about to visit the most popular and touristy street in Bangkok to see what this water festival is all about, but don't worry: I got soaked so you could stay dry!

Songkran is a celebration of the Thai New Year with roots in Buddhism, and over the years, it's evolved into a huge water fight on the streets! No one is safe. Water gun nozzles are aimed outside open bus windows. People spray hoses at passersby on the streets (pedestrian or vehicle -- it doesn't matter). Families pile into pick-up trucks, stashes of water in guns and buckets, just to pick water fights with random strangers on the streets.

Smiles are contagious and necessary. If you leave the safety of a building to go literally anywhere, you are going to get soaked. If you are dry, you are a target. And if you have a foul mood about the inevitability of getting wet, then you're not doing Songkran right! If you want to stay dry, then stay indoors!

I'd intended to visit Khao San Road, the touristy road known for the most watery shenanigans, for just five minutes. Instead, I found myself there for three hours! (The lies we tell ourselves, right?)

My camera was wrapped in a meager plastic bag. I ran into fellow photographers who'd also gotten creative with their DIY waterproof "cases" for their DSLRs, and after shooting for an hour or so (and being a target for every person on the street who took it as a personal challenge to soak my camera), a couple gifted me their legit waterproof case.

With it, I plunged into the middle of the streets, feeling like a photojournalist in the thick of war, soaked to the bone but ready to capture all the stories and moments, some brutal, some silly, all joyous.

In the evenings, water fights aren't the only action on the streets!

I spent more time hanging out with the performers before the big parade began because my mentor trained me to have a photojournalist's mindset, and that's when all the stories really unfold. Behind the scenes is where you find the hard work, the camaraderie, the personality, and the passion!

Thank you, as always, for joining me for this visual journey through Songkran in Bangkok! May your days be as vibrant and joyous as this wonderful festival!

Have you ever been lucky enough to go to a cultural festival besides your own? Share your thoughts, stories, and favorite photos in the comments!