ID :
324367
Sat, 04/12/2014 - 13:04
Auther :

Songkran festival starts in several Thai provinces

BANGKOK, April 12 (TNA) - Amid summer heat in the country, people, including foreigners, have begun splashing water at each other, signifying the start of long holidays celebrating the annual Songkran festival, or Thailand’s traditional New Year. The water-splashing festival which is also celebrated in some Southeast Asian countries including Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, southern Vietnam and southern China began early Saturday will continue until next Tuesday. In Bangkok, the festival organised by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) began with a parade and pouring water on the revered Buddha statue Phra Buddha Sihing. The procession started from Bangkok’s Sanam Luang and then moved to Wong Wian Yai on Thon Buri side before ending at a playground next to BMA headquarters. A Songkran fair will also be held near the BMA headquarters, starting from 5.00 p.m. During the fun-filled festival, participants will enjoy themselves by joining in ‘Ram Wong’, or Thai traditional dance, and engage in a contest of building sand sculpture. The atmosphere in the northern capital of Chiang Mai was also exciting as a large crowd of celebrants gathered at the Three Kings Monument and offered alms to Buddhist monks to celebrate Songkran as well as the province’s 718th anniversary. Many celebrants have already arrived in Chiang Mai and more are expected later in the day. Foreigners with smiling faces were seen throwing water at passers-by around the Thapae Gate, located in the provincial seat, amid high temperatures. Tourists, mostly Malaysians and Singaporeans, were seen splashing water with huge water guns around a commercial centre in the southern district of Hat Yai which is about 50 kilometres away from the Thai-Malaysian border. Water bowls with ices were placed in several areas in the town, known as shopping paradise for tourists, allowing Songkran revelers to refill their water guns with cool water. The activity will continue until late at night and resume tomorrow. (TNA)

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