Thailand begins celebrations for Songkran festival
Tourist destinations in Thailand began their celebrations of the traditional New Year festival Songkran on April 11, two days ahead of the official date.
Elephants and people play with water during the celebration of Songkran Water Festival in Ayutthaya, Thailand, on April 11, 2019. (Photo: VCG )
Bangkok (VNA) – Tourist destinations in Thailandbegan their celebrations of the traditional New Year festival Songkran on April11, two days ahead of the official date.
In the Thai former capital of Ayutthaya, a tourism hotspotrenowned for its ancient temple ruins, more than a dozen elephants with heartsand flowers painted on their bodies walked along the streets, splashing andspraying water at locals and foreigners.
The New Year festival – called Songkran in Thailand, CholChnam Thmay in Cambodia, Bunpimay in Laos, and Thingyan in Myanmar – iscelebrated in April every year, attracting tourists looking to observe nativetraditional cultures, the festive atmosphere, and popular water-splashingtradition to wash away bad luck and pray for a new good year.
In Thailand, it lasts from April 13 to 15 and is traditionallymarked by paying respect to elders and sprinkling water over Buddha statues atlocal temples. –VNA
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is expecting up to 20 billion THB to be spent by both domestic and international visitors during the Songkran holiday, especially after the Cabinet announced an extra day for the festivities and tax incentives for tourism.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has forecast that the number of tourists during this year’s Songkran festival from April 12-16 will drop by 10 percent partly due to the northern haze problems.
The Thai Government has instructed its police to comply with regulations to ensure safety and order during the traditional Songkran holiday which falls on April 12-16.
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Elephants and people play with water during the celebration of Songkran Water Festival in Ayutthaya, Thailand, on April 11, 2019. (Photo: VCG ) 
