A traditional artist troupe performs in front of the city hall during the first day of water festival to mark Thingyan, Burma's traditional new year in Rangoon, Burma. (AP)

Elephants spray tourists with water in Thailand's Ayutthaya province, during Songkran, the water festival that marks the start of Thailand's traditional New Year. (Reuters)

Sri Lankan army officers play a game involving raw eggs as they celebrate Sinhalese and Tamil New Year in Colombo, Sri Lanka, April 10, 2012. (AP)

A girl dressed as a snake charmer participates in New Year celebrations in Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 13, 2012. (AP)

Assamese dancers perform the Bihu, a folk dance, during celebrations in Gauhati, India, April 13, 2012. Rongali Bihu marks the onset of the Assamese New Year and the coming of spring. (AP)

The chariot of God Bhairab is pulled through the city centre of Bhaktapur during the Bisket festival, which takes place over the Nepalese New Year. (Reuters)

Children cheering as the chariot of God Bhairab is being pulled through the city of Bhaktapur, Nepal, April 9, 2012. (Reuters)

Cambodians ride atop a vehicle as they leave Phnom Penh to return to their hometowns to celebrate the Khmer New Year April 12, 2012. (Reuters)

Punk rock fans gather to celebrate on the eve of Thingyan, at Bogyoke market in Rangoon, Burma, April 11, 2012. (AP)

People celebrate the new year with water guns during Songkran, in Bangkok, Thailand, April 13, 2012. (AP)