AYUTTHAYA: Elephants with hearts and flowers painted on their bodies sprayed water at revellers celebrating Thailand’s traditional new year on Thursday, in an annual event which has animal protection groups crying foul over animal cruelty.

In Thailand’s former capital Ayutthaya, a tourist hotspot famed for its ancient temple ruins, more than a dozen elephants walked along the streets with their handlers on their backs, splashing and spraying water at locals and foreigners under a blistering sun.

The soaking by the pachyderms kicks off a weekend of festivities for Songkran, the traditional Buddhist new year celebration which officially begins on April 13.

Revellers “can come to pay respects to Buddha and offer alms to monks in the morning and in the afternoon play water with the elephants,” said Laithongren Meepan, owner of the Ayutthaya Elephant Camp.

“(Using their trunks to spray water) is the elephants’ natural way of playing,” he added.

Traditionally marked by paying respects to elders and sprinkling water over Buddha figures at local temples, the Songkran holiday has largely evolved into a raucous water fight.

Locals and foreigners armed with water guns and protective googles engage in soggy street parties, bringing much of the country to a standstill.

“In other provinces, they have foam parties. But in Ayutthaya, you can celebrate Songkran with the elephants,” Laithongren said.

Published in Dawn, April 12th, 2019