A 25-year-old-man was arrested by Samut Prakan police for raping a 14-year-old girl.

She was introduced to him by her friend, and they celebrated Songkran together. But while taking her home on his motorbike, he raped her in a forest.

It typically lasts three days (often around April 13–15, though dates can vary slightly), and one of its most iconic traditions is the pouring of water. This act originally had a gentle, symbolic meaning—people would sprinkle water on Buddha statues and elders’ hands to wash away bad luck and misfortune from the past year and welcome a fresh start.

Over time, it has also evolved into the large-scale, joyful water fights you see today in cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai, while still maintaining its deeper cultural and spiritual significance.

-TN