The world renowned Songkran, much celebrated on April 13th each year, is the Thai New Year's national day. In order to let people go home for this holiday, the Thai government 41 the festival to a seven-day holiday beginning from April 9th to 16th. The word, "Songkran," which is "samkrānti" in Sanskrit, carries the meaning of "astrological passage" with its 42 of transformation or change. Viewed as ritual cleansing, the Songkran celebrations have people engage themselves to water fighting in public. It has thus become 43 and widespread among Thai and foreign visitors. The origin of Songkran Festival can be 44 back to a Buddhist folk myth concerning harvest and spring. In the city of Sukhavati in Suvvannabhumi, Indra, King of Devas, witnessed the occurrence of corruption in the city where people were sinful for their bad behaviors and they led a life without faith in Dhamma. The king then decided to punish people by having them 45 by lack of water and food. There is even a drought with a hot sun burning people to death.