After three years of absence, Bangkok’s Khaosan Road was teeming with revelers on Wednesday to celebrate the Songkran holiday.
Vendors have set up kiosks along the street offering food and drinks, as well as water cannons, plastic bags for devices, and other water-fighting equipment.
Thursday through Saturday (April 13-15), the world-famous backpacker street will be closed to traffic from noon to 8 p.m. for the Songkran water wars.
After three relatively dry years under Covid regulations, the party is expected to be especially rowdy this week.Each day of the Songkran vacation, local businesses expect 30,000 to 40,000 Thais and foreigners to visit Khaosan, generating 30-40 billion baht. Hoteliers in the area report occupancy rates of 70%.
According to Pol Col Sanong Saengmanee, superintendent of the nearby Chana Songkhram police station, a team of 100 police officers and civil defense volunteers would be on hand this week to maintain public safety among the throngs.
He explained that the region has seven screening checkpoints, three first aid stations, four ambulances, and three emergency exits.
“Signposts set up in the area carry four languages: Thai, English, Chinese, and Korean,” he explained.
The superintendent stated that police will be looking for guns and illicit alcohol. High-pressure water pistols, colored powder, and nudity were also prohibited at this year’s Songkran celebrations, according to Sanong. He went on to say that people should not dress half-naked.Bangkok has allocated 198 locations throughout the city for Songkran celebrations.
Traditional Thai New Year festivities such as sprinkling water over Buddha images, as well as celebrations, live music, and water splashing, will be featured at organized events. This year, Silom Road will not be closed to traffic, but it is likely to be clogged with Songkran revelers for the following three days.
