The most obvious part of Songkran is the throwing of water. In some cities, Buddha images are paraded through the streets so people can toss water at them to clean them. People used to collect the water thrown on the Buddha images and put this blessed water gently on the shoulders of elders and family to give them good fortune and wash away misfortune. It appears that the present method of pouring water on everyone evolved because of the heat in April, the hottest month of the year in Southeast Asia.