Songkran festival on Khao San Road officially starts

BANGKOK, April 11 (TNA) - The Thai New Year festival on well-known Khao San Road in Bangkok officially kicked off this morning under tight security while revellers are asked to dress properly and not use powder. Piyabutr Jiwaramonaikul, president of an association of operators on Khao San Road presided over the opening event at about 9am. It included religious and worshipping ceremonies, parades of Songkran queens, Thai classical dancers and a procession of Buddha images for people to bathe. The processions moved on Bang Lamphu Road to promote Thai cultures and the Songkran celebrations on Khao San Road. The highlights included foreign Songkran queens voted by tourists on Khao San Road. Regarding security, Mr Piyabutr said that about three companies of soldiers and police as well as volunteer guards were securing Khao San Road and its vicinity. He urged revellers to dress properly, watch out for criminals and refrain from using powder in water splashes. He added that women facing sexual harassment could file complaints with authorities there right away. The Songkran festival on Khao San Road unofficially began yesterday and will continue until April 15. Workers start to clean the road at 10pm every day. (TNA)