Songkran and Covid-19: Water wars cancelled all over Thailand but authorities "powerless" to stop Khao San Road fight

 

FILE PHOTO: Revelers use water guns as they participate in a water fight during Songkran Festival celebrations at Khaosan road in Bangkok, Thailand April 12, 2014. The Songkran festival, also known as the water festival, marks the start of Thailand's traditional New Year and is believed to wash away bad luck. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

 

Thailand has started to rein in and cancel this year's Songkran festival - at least in terms of public water wars. 

 

The moves come as fears mount that the event would provide the ideal situation for the spread of coronavirus and Covid-19.

 

Big events in Khon Kaen, Bang Saen, Phetchabun and Buriram have been confirmed as cancelled. 

 

Khao San Road's event - at least in terms of a water fight - could yet go ahead after a business leader suggested the authorities might be powerless to stop it. 

 

Despite a huge swathe of public events cancelled in Pattaya no word has yet come through that Songkran has got the chop.

 

The same can also be said of Chaing Mai, though announcements are likely to be imminent.

 

Leading the way in cancelling yesterday was Khon Kaen mayor Theerasak Theekhayaphan who pulled the plug on one of the north east's biggest celebrations.

 

The Songkran event on Khao Niaw Road that usually attracts 100,000 and brings in 200 million baht has been cancelled along with a parade. 

 

Instead there will be small scale events that hark back to Thailand's earlier days when Songkran was a quiet cultural event rather than a water fight. 

 

These include "tham bun tak baht" or merit making by giving gifts to monks, Thai games for children and the tradition of wetting the heads and hands of the elderly in respectful gestures. Theerasak said what Khon Kaen does will be confirmed at a meeting on March 9th.

 

Meanwhile Saensuk mayor Narongchai Khunpluem cancelled the Wan Lai celebration in Bang Saen in Chonburi. No water spraying will allowed and large vehicles will be banned from entering the beach road area. 

 

Whether his relative in Pattaya a few kilometers down the road follows suit remains to be seen. Mayor Sontaya Khunpluem has so far just cancelled music festivals, sports events and other public gatherings until September. 

 

In Buriram the Songkran event at the Sanam Chang Arena has been cancelled. 

 

Songkran events in Phetchabun have also been cancelled in public areas with the governor suggesting that people can play water fights "at their own risk".

 

One of Thailand's biggest free-for-all events is in Khao San Road in the Banglamphu area of Bangkok. 

 

Khao San business leader Sanga Reuangwattanakul told a show on PPTV discussing the severe economic fallout from the effects of the virus outbreak that no formal events are likely to take place there on stage. 

 

But he said that it was a public space and people could not be stopped from throwing water at each other.

 

Though he said that attendees were likely to be cut by nearly half because so few tourists were coming now. 

 

Sources: PPTV | Thai Rath | Workpoint News | Channel 7

 

 

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Happy to see a spark of common sense has found its way into thinking. And given its current water shortage issues, saving water at the same time as preventing a possible spread of the virus, really does seem like a no brainer.

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

But he said that it was a public space and people could not be stopped from throwing water at each other.

And I strongly suspect that despite their best efforts it will be a war zone out there, pretty much as usual. Thais and crazy tourists won't let a little thing like the threat of death slow them down when they want their water madness fun.

I did have a laugh though when I noted the suggestion to not throw water, but to give gifts to monks instead! Gotta keep the economy ticking.

Weren't the Khao San Songkran activities cancelled last year due to the build up to the Coronation?

 

I won't say any more!

 

 

It would appear that common sense has prevailed. That is until they back track due to public outcry...

52 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Happy to see a spark of common sense has found its way into thinking. And given its current water shortage issues, saving water at the same time as preventing a possible spread of the virus, really does seem like a no brainer.

Ah, but you forget, TiT and common sense is unavailable here.  

"Khao San Road's event - at least in terms of a water fight - could yet go ahead after a business leader suggested the authorities might be powerless to stop it"

 

Greed and stupidity all in one brain - priceless

Can't stop it? 

Turn it into a political rally and see how quickly it is stopped.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Whether his relative in Pattaya a few kilometers down the road follows suit remains to be seen. Mayor Sontaya Khunpluem has so far just cancelled music festivals, sports events and other public gatherings until September. 

Lets wait and see.......money number 1 in Pattaya!!

Strange. This was a well publicised news story from this time last year about Khao San Road. Yet this year they are powerless to stop it. 

 

The annual festival known as the world’s biggest water fight will be a little smaller this year, as one of Bangkok’s famed tourist districts called off its celebrations to avoid clashing with preparations to crown Thailand’s new king.

1 hour ago, Oziex1 said:

Can't stop it? 

Turn it into a political rally and see how quickly it is stopped.

How true.

The only problem is how will the government explain all the foreign tourists shot dead by the army?

authorities "powerless" to stop Khao San Road fight

 

And we all thought the army was in control!

2 minutes ago, Chassa said:

authorities "powerless" to stop Khao San Road fight

 

And we all thought the army was in control!

Not over Songkran - unless they've got a water cannon.

 

Meanwhile in Pattaya.....

 

6 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Happy to see a spark of common sense has found its way into thinking. And given its current water shortage issues, saving water at the same time as preventing a possible spread of the virus, really does seem like a no brainer.

drunk Thai's and dumb farangs.  sounds like a great party

I was having a glimmer of hope when I read some people in power had woken to the fact that Songkran would be the ideal breading ground for the virus coupled together with tourists from all countries in attendance, to the ones that have stood up to be counted I thank you for having the sense to do so to the others and those who comment it can't be done I sincerely hope you wake up before its too late, what ever Pattaya makes from hosting this event it will cost the city twice as much in loss of face and condemnation from every country when this virus explodes.

Maybe they can add a disinfectant to the water.  Lysol, ammonia, betadine? ????????????

3 hours ago, bluesofa said:

How true.

The only problem is how will the government explain all the foreign tourists shot dead by the army?

A Misunderstanding

6 hours ago, madmitch said:

Weren't the Khao San Songkran activities cancelled last year due to the build up to the Coronation?

 

I won't say any more!

 

 

...another 'Corona' type word...i had a Toyota Corona when i was young, became popular and one could say the model went 'viral'...seen a few eclipses..but never tried Corona beer.

Khao San Road's event - at least in terms of a water fight - could yet go ahead after a business leader suggested the authorities might be powerless to stop it. 

 

Money talks.

Permanently cancel this disgusting exchange of toilet water debauchery. Thailand has moved into the modern era in many ways but Song Kran is a third world throw back that should be eliminated.

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

Not over Songkran - unless they've got a water cannon.

 

Or a Chinese submarine... ????????

It should be stopped and the RTP patrolling Khao San Road would enable this.

The tourists may not care because they think that they will be home by the time they have any symptoms. However, unfortunately, they will pass the virus onto the ordinary, hard working Thai people.

The powers that be(from the very top down) should stop sitting with their millions, investments, their own little bubbles and think about their own citizens, not themselves.

7 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Happy to see a spark of common sense has found its way into thinking. And given its current water shortage issues, saving water at the same time as preventing a possible spread of the virus, really does seem like a no brainer.

Yep, stopping official sponsored events is easy,  simply say no, it's not on, but actually stopping people from partaking in the madness will be another story - - tried it with no more riding in the back of pick-ups - - seems that really worked out as planned. 

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Not over Songkran - unless they've got a water cannon.

 

They have, believe they have quite a few. 

9 minutes ago, NoComment said:

It should be stopped and the RTP patrolling Khao San Road would enable this.

The tourists may not care because they think that they will be home by the time they have any symptoms. However, unfortunately, they will pass the virus onto the ordinary, hard working Thai people.

The powers that be(from the very top down) should stop sitting with their millions, investments, their own little bubbles and think about their own citizens, not themselves.

Then the alarm clock went off..... ????

7 hours ago, webfact said:

But he said that it was a public space and people could not be stopped from throwing water at each other.

Arrest them for assault 

Years of impotence enforcing the simple helmet law. Impotence curbing the roadway slaughter. Will this be any different? Stay tuned.

47 minutes ago, Oziex1 said:

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

How true.

The only problem is how will the government explain all the foreign tourists shot dead by the army?

A Misunderstanding

Does that old chestnut work on non-Thais?

Dog Doo !  Khao san road was on it's way down a couple of years ago when the BIB were painting runways up and down the street, playing brown shirt squads ........ Now the latest joke, "Khao San Road's event - at least in terms of a water fight - could yet go ahead after a business leader suggested the authorities might be powerless to stop it."  So you're telling me that the "Authorities might be powerless".........  Have you ever stood in front of a tank ?