Songkran festival in Bangkok, 2019

[Jellybean]

Unfortunately, I shall not be in Thailand for this year’s Songkran festival which, according to a recent report in the Bangkok Post, will be a more subdued event this year. Hopefully, if all goes well, I should be in Bangkok this time next year. In the meantime, I should be interested in hearing from members lucky enough to be in Bangkok for the festival.



City scraps Khao San, Silom fetes

Khao San and Silom roads will remain open during the Songkran festival this year, but won't host any entertainment shows and events, according to City Hall.

The Songkran organisers' decision not to hold any events on the two roads to celebrate the festival this year is in light of the preparations for His Majesty the King's coronation from May 4-6, which is only a month away.

City clerk Sinlapasuai Sawisaengsun said on Thursday the two roads will still be open to Songkran revellers. They will be free to splash water but there will be no celebratory entertainment.

The Songkran long weekend is from April 13 to 16. City Hall has prohibited the use of high-pressure water guns and the consumption of alcohol at the celebration venues.

The festival will take place between April 11 and 14 in the Thai traditional theme at Lumpini Park, which is close to Silom Road. The sacred Phra Buddha Sihing Buddha statue will be brought from the Phutthaisawan Throne Hall and moved around the city for the public to pay their respects during the Songkran period.

Meanwhile, Nok Air plans to end flights between Bangkok and Nan after the Songkran festival, according to Nan airport general manager Ruangyuth Nittayanon.

He said on Thursday the airport has been notified by the budget airline of its decision to stop flying the route from April 18, after more than one year in service.

Nok Air, which is operating at a loss, did not explain the reason, he added.

Source: Bangkok Post - 5 April 2019

https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1656664/city-scraps-khao-san-silom-fetes

[francois]

. In the meantime, I should be interested in hearing from members lucky enough to be in Bangkok for the festival.



You do mean miserable and fiasco ? :crazy_mini:

[christianpfc]

Unfortunately, I shall not be in Thailand for this year’s Songkran festival...
Fortunately, I shall not be in Thailand for this year's Songkran festival...

[Jellybean]

The downside of Songkran as reported on the Chiang Rai Times website:



Sixth Day Road Toll for Songkran 2019
– 348 Dead, 3,176 Injured and 3,068
Traffic Accidents
By Editor on April 18, 2019 Comments Off on Sixth Day Road Toll for Songkran 2019 – 348 Dead, 3,176 Injured and 3,068 Traffic Accidents

BANGKOK – Thailand’s government’s Road Safety Operation Center reported there were 3,068 traffic accidents in which 348 people were killed during six days of the dangerous Songkran travel week (April 11-17).

Apart from the death toll, the accidents also injured 3,176 people. No one was killed in traffic accidents in the five provinces of Trang, Phangnga, Mae Hong Son, Sukhothai and Ang Thong.

Chiang Mai posted the highest number of traffic accidents with 119 incidents while the highest death toll, 15, was reported each in Nakhon Ratchasima and Udon Thani provinces.

Chayapol Thitisak, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and secretary to the Road Safety Operation Center, said the center would gather road safety problems and recommendations from all parties and work out road safety solutions and measures for the cabinet to implement during normal time and festivals.

The government has set up about 2,000 checkpoints and deployed more than 65,000 officials and volunteers on roads across the country in an attempt to curb traffic violations and reduce the number of accidents during the festivities.

Department of Probation chief Prasarn Mahaleetrakul told reporters on Wednesday that strict enforcement of traffic laws would continue until the end of the campaign.

The number of traffic accidents, deaths and injuries dropped this year compared with the Songkran period a year ago.

Source: https://www.chiangraitimes.com/sixth-day-road-toll-for-songkran-2019-348-dead-3176-injured-and-3068-traffic-accidents.html

[Oliver2]

To what extent are these manifestations (some would say "perversions") of Songkran encouraged by falang or tourist participation? The ceremonies that take place in less urban centres seem so gentle and respectful.

[billyhouston]

It's worth remembering that, using WHO (Thailand) figures,.... "with an annual estimate of over 24 000 deaths or 66 deaths every day"........ 348 deaths in 6 days is about par for the course.

[frequent]

The downside of Songkran ....You mean there's an upside to Songkran?

[dinagam]

Indeed there's an upside to Songkran.
Look carefully at the guy below.

[Moses]

Today at Jomtien beach:

8864

8865

8866

8867

8868

8869

8870

[Jellybean]

You mean there's an upside to Songkran?

In reply, I would refer the honourable member to post #8 by dinagam and post #9 by Moses. The defence rests its case m'lud (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/M%27lud).
;)

[Blacktouch]

Indeed there's an upside to Songkran.
Look carefully at the guy below.

Yes, also look carefully at his face too?