Major cities cancel Songkran events
This year’s Songkran festival in Thailand is starting to look less festive as the COVID-19 outbreak has forced regional administrations in major provinces to cancel parties scheduled for the iconic water festival.
As Songkran is the biggest festival that attracts global crowds, it’s almost impossible to avoid clusters of people, which is not an ideal scenario for the current situation.
Thus, major tourist cities and bigger provinces outside of Bangkok such as Pattaya City, Chonburi, and the northeastern Khon Kaen have decided to call off several events.
The traditional ceremony will go on
Songkran Festival in Pattaya
Image credit: Pattaya Mail
Although Khon Kaen’s 8-day celebration from the 8th to 15th of April has been removed from the schedule, Mayor Thirasak Thikhayuphan confirmed that the cultural ceremony will still go on.
The ceremony will include offering alms to monks and showering the elderly with water to bless them at the city’s lake, Bueng Kaen Nakhon.
Image credit: Thairath
Unlike Khon Kaen, Pattaya City has decided to abort both their traditional ceremonies and party plans to reduce all the risk involved with large crowds during COVID-19.
Bangkok events left uncertain
Despite the cancellations in other provinces, Bangkok is yet to take any action. Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Yuthasak Supasorn said some adjustments will be made regarding the activities, but this is yet to be confirmed.
However, Mr. Khananart Muennu, spokesman for the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, conveyed that cancellation of Songkran plans is possible.
Although the festival is a time for fun we believe that taking care of our health is the first priority. Just stay healthy and wait for next year’s Songkran to have a blast!
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Cover image adapted from: Pattaya Mail