Muslims celebrate Hari Raya in Thai Far South

THAI FAR SOUTH, July 6 (TNA) - Muslim brothers and sisters, including locals and visitors from neighbouring Malaysia, are celebrating Hari Raya AidilFitri 2016 in the Thai Far South, marking the end of their Ramadan fasting month. In the southernmost Yala Province, Deputy Governor Udon Noitabtim led representatives of local Islamic networks and mosques, as well as Muslim residents from local communities, totally over 3,000 people, to do their prayers on Wednesday morning for the annual festive occasion. In Songkhla Province, tourists from neighbouring Malaysia have crowded the Sadao Checkpoint for their entry into Thailand since July 5, prompting local authorities to deploy more immigration officers to serve the large number of Malaysian visitors. Songkhla Immigration Police Chief Inspector Lieutenant Colonel Prayuth Dithapanya told reporters that at least 10,000 Malaysian tourists are expected to cross the border to celebrate the Hari Raya AidilFitri in Hat Yat, Thailand's southern business hub in Songkhla, this week, while strict security measures have been maintained in the area for the sake of public safety. During the Hari Raya AidilFitri, the Islamic New Year Festival, Muslim families normally prepare a variety of food and dessert to warmly and happily welcome their visiting relatives and friends, while also wearing new clothes travelling to visit relatives and friends, as well as tourist sites in other places, or returning to their hometowns for a yearly reunion with their families. (TNA)