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15:46 GMT, Monday, 14 April 2008 16:46 UK

In Pictures: Celebrating Songkran

Young people play with water in Bangkok, Thailand (14/04/2008)

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People in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Burma are celebrating the Buddhist New Year, by taking part in massive outdoor water fights, said to wash away the sins of the previous year.

Children play with water in Bangkok, Thailand (14/04/2008)

Children play with water in Bangkok, Thailand (14/04/2008)

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People of all ages are taking to the streets to shower their friends and relatives, or passing strangers, with water.

A child plays with a water fountain in Bangkok, Thailand (14/04/2080)

A child plays with a water fountain in Bangkok, Thailand (14/04/2080)

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The New Year festival, named Songkran in Thailand, is a traditional religious festival, but has also become a popular secular event in recent years.

A woman offers food to Buddhist monks inLuang Prabang, Laos (13/04/2008)

A woman offers food to Buddhist monks inLuang Prabang, Laos (13/04/2008)

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In Luang Prabang, Laos, these women used the festival to make offerings of food and alms to Buddhist monks...

A boy throws water at a moped driver in Luang Prabang, Laos (13/04/2008)

A boy throws water at a moped driver in Luang Prabang, Laos (13/04/2008)

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...but elsewhere in the city, no one was safe from the buckets of water.

Youg people throw water from a truck in Rangoon, Burma (13/04/2008)

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In Burma, where the festival is known as Thingyan, people are taking advantage of temporarily relaxed laws against gatherings of more than five people.

Members of the Sikh community play with water in Bangkok, Thailand (14/04/2008)

Members of the Sikh community play with water in Bangkok, Thailand (14/04/2008)

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In Thailand, people from all parts of Thai society are taking part, including these members of Bangkok's Sikh community.

A Western man shoots a water pistol in Bangkok, Thailand (14/04/2008)

A Western man shoots a water pistol in Bangkok, Thailand (14/04/2008)

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Thailand's tourism authority says the increase in tourist numbers during this year's event could bring millions of dollars into the economy.

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