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By The Nation
Published on April 13, 2010
Songkran officially begins today, with a subdued mood in the capital, where bloody clashes between redshirt demonstrators and soldiers took place just a few days earlier.
In Bangkok, most festivities to celebrate the occasion have been cancelled.
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) decided to carry on with just one of its planned events - bringing out the Phra Buddha Sihing for people to pay respect and ask for blessings.
"It's a good start according to Thai beliefs," Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday. Songkran celebrates the traditional Thai New Year.
Phra Buddha Sihing is one of the most sacred Buddha statues in the country.
"Thais have worshipped this statue since the Sukhothai period," the city governor said.
Phra Buddha Sihing is usually enshrined in the Buddhaisawan Throne Hall, which is now inside the national museum.
Sukhumbhand said the Phra Buddha Sihing will be enshrined in front of BMA headquarters till Thursday.
For the Songkran celebrations in Bangkok, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has also promoted a tour to nine temples.
In recent years, khao san Road has been a major hub for Songkran revellers in Bangkok. However, with the tourist strip being so close to the scene of bloody clashes on Saturday night, business operators have decided not to hold any Songkran celebration this year.
But tourists staying at local guesthouses and hotels were out splashing water on friends and passersby yesterday.
Metropolitan Police Bureau spokesman Maj General Piya Uthayo said police had seriously manned checkpoints around the capital to prevent crime and unrest in the capital during the Songkran festival.
Interior Minister Chaovarat Chanweerakul, who chairs the Road Safety Centre, said checkpoints across the country would serve to reduce road casualties at a time when millions of Thais hit the road for an annual break upcountry with their families.
Despite the political crisis, Songkran promises to be a happy time for many.
Apichart Inpongphan, who heads the TAT's northeastern branch, said his office would host various activities over the New Year break in 19 provinces in Isaan (the Northeast).
"People will have fun." He expected the festival would generate spending of about Bt500 million in the region.
Occupancy rates at hotels in the Northeast had already jumped, he said.
Source: http://www.nationmul...l-30127117.html
