Water fights broke out across Thailand in the first celebration of the time-honored tradition since it was added to a UNESCO list last year.

The Songkran water festival is held to celebrate Thailand's traditional New Year, which fell on Saturday this year. The event has been added to the world's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list by the United Nations cultural agency.

Revelers gathered on a street in central Bangkok to celebrate one day before the formal start of the holiday.

This is the hottest season, with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. Residents and tourists used water guns and buckets to splash water at each other.

The tradition started with people pouring water on Buddha statues and the elderly to pay their respects.

The Thai government sees the UNESCO listing as an opportunity to promote tourism and has organized events across the country.

The government expects tourism to rake in 650 million dollars during the five-day holiday period.

A local man who took part in the festival with his friends said he is happy that this unique cultural practice has been recognized as intangible heritage.

He also said he wants to pass the tradition on to the next generation.