The Songkran festival is the thai New Year’s festival. The Thai New year’s Day is on 13 April every year, but the holiday period includes 14 – 15 April as well. The Songkran celebration is rich with symbolic traditions. Mornings begins with merit-making. Visiting local temples and offering food to the Buddhist, monks is commonly practiced. On this specific occasion, performing water pouring on Buddha statues is considered an iconic ritual for this holiday represents purification and the washing away one’s sins and bad luck. As a festival of unity, people who have moved away usually return home to their loved ones and elders. As a way to show respect, younger people often practice water pouring over the palms of elders’ hands. Paying respect to ancestors is also an important part of Songkran tradition. The holiday is known for its water festival which is mostly celebrated by young people. Major streets are closed for traffic, and used as areas for water fights. Celebrants, young and old, participate in this tradition by splashing water on each other. 1. How long does the Songkran festival last? => ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 2. What does water pouring on Buddha statues symbolize? => …………………………………………………………………………………………… 3. Younger people often pour water over the palms of elders’ hands to show respect, don’t they? => ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 4. Why is the Songkran festival a festival of unity? => ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5. By whom is the water festival mostly celebrated? => ………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 6. What are major streets closed during the festival for?