Thousands take part in Jinghong water battle

Thousands of people armed with plastic water guns and buckets battled on the streets of a southwestern Chinese city on Monday, drenching each other as part of an annual Buddhist-inspired festival.

A record of around 100,000 people were expected to take part in the event in Jinghong, a few hours drive from China’s border with Myanmar.

Official celebrations began at noon, when the city’s designated water splashing square erupted into chaos as thousands scooped torrents high into the air and at each other.

“The splashing gets more crazy every year,” said 67-year old retired government official Ai Hannun, a member of China’s Dai minority, who hold the festival to usher in a new year set by their own traditional calendar.

Orange-robed Buddhist monks led a prayer to launch the festival, which has its roots in the religious practice of bathing a statue of the Buddha, and is also celebrated in other south east Asian countries including Thailand.

“Water-splashing used to be carried out at home, with family and friends, as a way of showing respect,” he said.

For most participants, including thousands of tourists from across China, the festival’s religious origins were less important than the thrills of soaking, and being soaked.