Wet And Wonderful Songkran, Politics Forgotten Temporarily

BANGKOK, April 16 (Bernama) -- Anyone walking on the streets in Thailand for the past three days were likely to be drenched, while politics was temporarily forgotten. Despite the continuing political problems, slow economic growth and rice farmers still owed billions for many months now, it was party time for Thais and tourists alike, celebrating the water festival or Songkran from April 12 to 15. In Bangkok, it was quieter than usual as many returned to their hometown for the long Thai New Year holiday but tourists cheered up the capital. Many tourists walked around with water guns in this metropolitan city, particularly in the tourist areas such as Nan and Asok. Virtually everyone walking on the street of Bangkok was wet. All political problems were temporarily suspended as people celebrated the holiday. Many young people who work in the capital city took the opportunity of the long holiday to return to their hometown and to donate the merit money collected from their colleagues in Bangkok to the temples in their hometown. Songkran is more than a long Thai New Year holiday as it is also "Family Day" (April 14) for Thais to spend time together and doing good things together. At the Srathong temple of Nongsaeng village, Srisomdet sub-district, Somdet in northern Thailand, for instance, a religious ceremony was held where the villagers paid respects to their elders. This was also seen in many other villagers but amid the joy among the rural farmers, there was much concern and worries about the future. "I am very happy today because it's the Thai New Year. It's good to see our family members gather, as they seldom meet if it's not Songkran. "But I am also sad at the same time because my husband cannot join us as he has to work to make money for our family," said Prapan Paimee, a 45-year-old rice farmer in Somdet. "We would have some money to spend for Songkran if the government did not delay the payment for the rice sold to the government," she said, adding that she was owed about 65,000 baht (about US$2,010). Prapan said several other people in her village faced the same problem. She said she sold her rice on Nov 6, last year and the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) informed her that the bank did not have the budget yet. "I don’t borrow from my neighbours or cousins because they too don't have money. "My children have to go to school next month. I really have no idea where to get money to finance their schooling," she said, as she made her way to pray at the village temple. -- BERNAMA