Revellers soak in Songkran festivities

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday presided over a ceremony to mark the beginning of Songkran celebrations at Tha Phae Gate in her hometown, Chiang Mai. Ministers also joined the ceremony that offered an opportunity to revellers to celebrate in a traditional way. 

Later at a hotel in the province, the ministers as well as her son poured water into the prime minister’s palms, a traditional activity done to show respect to respected and senior people during this traditional Thai New Year. Nong Pipe, her son, wished her good health so that she could work and do good deeds for the country.

Yingluck, her relatives and the ministers also ate local northern-style noodles at a restaurant together. 

Khon Kaen has become a major celebration venue for local residents and Thais and foreign tourists for years on the Khao Niao (sticky rice) Road. Even though the northeastern province is encountering drought this year, it has not prevented revellers from having fun. Instead of using large volumes of water, revellers are being encouraged to sprinkle water on each other to cut down on the water use.

Relevant agencies there yesterday opened Kai Yang (grilled chinken) Road for children to traditionally enjoy the festival where they can pour scented water on Buddha statues, pour the water into the palms of the elderly, build sand stupas and play traditional children’s games. 

The violence-prone province of Yala was yesterday crowded with locals and tourists from Malaysia and Singapore in Betong district, under the watchful eyes of security authorities. Traffic jams were reported on many roads in the district. In Muang district, hundreds of Buddhists offered alms to 120 monks and novices to mark the auspicious celebration yesterday morning. 

Despite tensions along the border of Thailand and Cambodia, as the International Court of Justice is going to hear statements from both countries from tomorrow to Friday, locals in the border village of Ban Phumsarol in Si Sa Ket’s Kantharalak district still had fun and enjoyed the water festival.

Bangkok’s Siam and Silom celebration venues were also filled with Thais and foreign revellers while performances by celebrities made the celebrations more exciting. A part of Silom Road was closed for revellers’ water celebrations from 2pm until midnight. 

Tens of thousands of people crowded into celebration areas in Buri Ram and Phitsanulok. Revellers enjoyed a foam party and concerts at a stadium in Buri Ram. 

Phuket’s Patong beach and downtown were filled with tourists. There was also a traditional event held to celebrate the festival on Soi Ta-ied.