BANGKOK Governor Chadchart Sittipunt got thoroughly wet in launching the Maha Songkran Festival on Khao San road at 1.30 p.m. today (Apr. 13) and after wishing everyone a Happy Thai New Year urged that they not aggressively splash water, Matichon newspaper said.
In his speech he called on everyone to get fully wet so that all that is bad flows away with the water and they then receive good things in life.
He added that all was in order at the checkpoints with police and municipality officials performing their duties well.
Just then a girl threw some water at him and when he was through with his speech he squirted water right back.
The atmosphere at this tourist centre was lively with lots of foreigners and Thais having fun splashing and squirting water.
There are events nearby Khao San road at City Hall Square (Larn Khon Mueang) and Khlong Phadung Krung Kasem, with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration having arranged feeder buses to take revellers there.
NICEMap has put out a map showing 198 places in Bangkok where Songkran events are being held and spots where people could go to and splash water at each other at https://th.riskmap.org/
Meanwhile Thais and foreign tourists started having a splashing good time in front of the Central World complex and surrounding area from 2 p.m. onwards.
There was a DJ playing music while Buddhists got an opportunity to pour scented water on a Buddha image from Mahabodhi Temple, Gaya, Bihar, India, on the first floor of Central World’s Beacon Zone.
CAPTION:
Songkran merrimakers having fun at Khao Sarn road and in front of Central World shopping complex with Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt being among them. Photos: Matichon
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