Iran war dampens Thailand's biggest party
by editors@theworld.org (Patrick Winn) from The World: Latest Stories on (#74YFY)
It's supposed to be the most joyful time of the year in Thailand. Songkran, or Thai Buddhist New Year, is a time for merrymaking and washing away negativity - literally, by splashing strangers on the street with water guns and pouring water over elders' hands in a show of respect. Lots of tourists fly in to join Thais for giant water fights; Thais flock to their home provinces to seek blessings from parents and grandparents. But, as Patrick Winn reports, the Iran war is throwing a huge damper on this year's celebrations.