Songkran holiday begins

CHIANG RAI, April 12 (TNA) – Songkran holiday starts as the government declared April 12 a holiday. People in many provinces are conducting traditional activities to mark Songkran, Thai New Year. In Chiang Rai province, Wanchai Jongsuthamanee, the Chiang Rai mayor, opened a fair related to the National Day of Older Persons at the Chiang Rai municipal office. The fair was aimed at raising public awareness of the importance of the elderly who made great contribution to families and the nation. Mr Wanchai led 350 older persons who participated in the event to traditionally bathe Buddha images. On the same occasion, younger participants poured water on the senior citizens’ hands to traditionally extend their Thai New Year wishes. The elderly came from hill tribe communities and villages on plain terrains in Chiang Rai. In Chiang Mai province, local residents in their traditional Lanna dresses visited Buddhist temples to give alms to monks. They also traditionally carried sand to temples, released birds and fish, made merits for the spirits of their ancestors and prayed for their good luck. In Lamphun province, there was a procession of revered Buddha images on Lamphun-Chiang Mai road for people to conduct the Buddha image-bathing activity. Many local residents and tourists participated in the activity and prayed for their good life. An annual Songkran fair started in Muang Lamphun district on Thursday. (TNA)