Songkran 2017: Painted Thai elephants spray water to evict bad luck

An elephant sprays tourists with water in celebration of the Songkran Water Festival in Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok, Thailand. (Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters)

Updated on: Apr 12, 2017 11:08 AM IST

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An elephant sprays tourists with water in celebration of the Songkran Water Festival in Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok, Thailand. (Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters)

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A volunteer paints an elephant in celebration of the Songkran water festival.

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In Bangkok, Songkran is celebrated as a national holiday from April 13 to 15 . (Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters)

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A volunteer kisses an elephant in celebration during the Songkran water festival. (Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters)

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Local versions of Songkran are also observed in Cambodia, Laos, Burma and amongst ethnic minorities in Yunnan, southern China and Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India. (Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters)

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Elephants spraying water at tourists on the street. (Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters)

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Songkran marks the end of the dry season , April is Thailand’s hottest month – and the beginning of the annual rains in the fifth month of the Thai lunar year. (Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters)

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With assist from its mahouts, elephants blow water from its trunk on motor-tricycle or Tuk Tuk at Songkran or ancient Thai New Year celebration . (AP)

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A Thai mahout paints an elephant in celebration of the Songkran water festival. (Chaiwat Subprasom / Reuters)

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Tourists splash water on an elephant. This cleansing ritual is to bring luck and prosperity for the coming year. (AP)

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An elephant painted blue and red celebration for the water festival in Ayutthaya province, north of Bangkok, Thailand. (REUTERS)