» Amid summer heat, smiling Thailand celebrates its New Year

Respect and revelry marked celebrations of the Buddhist New Year in Thailand, known as Songkran, a favorite among tourists and locals for its raucous water splashing and water-gun fights, and also for visits to temples and honoring elders with water purification rites.

Songkran typically takes place during the peak of Thailand’s hot season in April and lasts three days. The Buddhist New Year is also celebrated in Thailand’s neighboring countries around the Southeast Asian region. Thailand’s Songkran is the most well-known globally of the festivals.

Many families visit Buddhist temples, where they clean or pour scented water…