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In photos: Thailand celebrates New Year

A child is splashed with water during Thai New Year cleebrations in Prachinburi, east of Bangkok, today.
A child is splashed with water during Thai New Year cleebrations in Prachinburi, east of Bangkok, today.
Image: AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn

PEOPLE IN THAILAND have been taking part in water fights and other celebrations as part of a three-day festival to mark the Thai New Year.

Over 3,000 people gathered in Bangkok today to attempt to set a Guinness World record for water fighting, the Nation reports.

The New Year celebrations include offering alms to monks, singing traditional songs, dancing, and asking elderly people for special blessings. Thai news agency MCOT reports that images of Buddha are also paraded.

However, further south in Thailand where people have been seriously affected by flooding and mudslides, the atmosphere is more sombre. Although celebrations are being held in some of the affected region, the Bangkok Post says that fewer people have been reported attending them because they are still coping with the damage and loss caused by the floods.

The New Year’s festival starts today and finishes on Friday.

In photos: Thailand celebrates New Year
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  • Thailand New Year

    Bus passengers look on as Thais engage in battle with buckets of water and squirt guns. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
  • Thailand New Year

    (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
  • Thailand New Year

    A water fight pictured today in Bangkok. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
  • Thailand New Year

    The annual Thai New Year celebrations takes over most Thai cities and villages last for three days. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
  • Thailand New Year

    Thais engage in battle with buckets of water and squirt guns during Thai New Year celebrations today in Bangkok. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
  • Thailand New Year

    Thais engage in battle with water guns in an attempt to set a world record for water splashing during Thai New Year celebrations today in Bangkok. (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
  • Thailand New Year

    A man gets soaked during Thai New Year celebrations today in Prachinburi province east of Bangkok.(AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn).

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