Songkran 2021: Forget water splashing fights - it's a dry and traditional New Year again

[webfact]

FILE PHOTO REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha

It looks like being a dry Songkran again this year after comments made by the culture minister Itthiphol Khunpleum following a cabinet meeting yesterday, reported Thai Rath.

The minister said that the small Covid steering committee will likely recommend to the CCSA main committee on Friday that all bets are off for the chance of a more raucous celebration next month.

Out go water fights, use of talcum powder to coat faces and foam parties.

Back in for a second year running are more traditional activities like sprinkling lustral water on Buddha images, giving alms to monks and paying respects to the elderly.

Last year's traditional Thai New Year was largely cancelled.

If parades go ahead this year their numbers will be limited and places like shops will have to have the familiar Covid protocols in place. 

Thus the modern day party that Songkran has become over the last few decades is cancelled again with just the old, gentle traditions remaining. 

The news will be greeted with mixed feelings - doubtless pleasure from people who dislike their lives disrupted by water fights and who fear the transmission of Covid.

Frustration from people who wanted to let their hair down after a year of blow after blow.

But a recent cluster of infection at a Bangkok market is forcing the government's hand and there could be even worse news for traders at Khao San Road.

The popular tourist area could be shut to revellers though a final decision about that would rest with the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority. 

The CCSA main steering committee will meet Friday to rubber stamp the anticipated proposals for Songkran that this year has been declared a six day holiday from April 10th to 15th. 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2021-03-17

 

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[JoePai]

Some good news comes out of this Covid misery

[Misterwhisper]

Whenever I am reminded that this country has a culture minister who is the offspring of a notorious mafia boss and convicted murderer and - thanks to daddy - grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth (besides probably having "inherited" a few character traits, too), I am just itching to ask him what culture he actually stands for.

[mtls2005]

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

he minister said that the small Covid steering committee will likely recommend

 

Maybe make recommendations to a larger committee?

 

Honestly, the PM makes all the decisions.

 

 

[Oldie]

Will be interesting to see if anyone cares here in Pattaya. If I look at the nightlife and how they deal with Covid regulations then I have little hope. 

[Henryford]

Great news, i won't have to leave town this year.

[anchadian]

The authorities need to concentrate not only in the large cities and towns but outside where water splashing will continue unabated during Songkran

 

[1Gringo]

no water and reduce it to a single day then I'll be all in because I only have to isolate for one day.

[prakhonchai nick]

With more than 250 new Covid 19 cases today, the greatest problem is the mass migration of millions of people from Bangkok to their homes in Isaan which will start in a little over 3 weeks

[ukrules]

Very little has changed since this time last year so why should anything change this year?

[overherebc]

12 minutes ago, prakhonchai nick said:

With more than 250 new Covid 19 cases today, the greatest problem is the mass migration of millions of people from Bangkok to their homes in Isaan which will start in a little over 3 weeks

Very valid point.

[2530Ubon]

4 hours ago, Henryford said:

Great news, i won't have to leave town this year.

 

[RichardColeman]

4 hours ago, Henryford said:

Great news, i won't have to leave town this year.

You think the kids next door will listen to the government ? 

[2530Ubon]

30 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

You think the kids next door will listen to the government ? 

Kids - This is Thailand; do you think the adults next door will listen to the government?

[British Bulldog]

I can't help feel that 'somebody' simply doesn't want the populous to have 'fun' ... its as if they are using Covid19 to ease people back into the old traditional ways of celebrating Song Khran ... however, as many have stated in this post, it won't stop the young and young at heart who traditionally go crazy during the celebrations ! (Myself included and I am 67)

[natway09]

More concerned about the amount of people moving provinces (taking or bringing back Covid) than I am about getting soaked. 

A sensible Government would ban it again this year if for no other reason than the vast amount of travel (they would as a side issue save 300 + souls from perishing which 

is more than have died of Covid in 2 years

[malibukid]

welcome news, no drunkards

[ChrisKC]

I think something is being lost in translation! I have hardly ever seen "splashing" except by small children in makeshift water containers. It is Throwing water, hose piping water, bucket loads of water, jet-propelled water pistols aimed at anything that moves!

For me, I like the word "sprinkle" with no ice, thank you

[ChrisKC]

Think of being soaked to the skin as hydrotherapy, administered in quantity and free of charge

[herwin1234]

6 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

Whenever I am reminded that this country has a culture minister who is the offspring of a notorious mafia boss and convicted murderer and - thanks to daddy - grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth (besides probably having "inherited" a few character traits, too), I am just itching to ask him what culture he actually stands for.

yaaaaaaaawn. get a grip...

[apetryxx]

What’s the problem some folks get sick then get better. This ain’t the Bubonic Plague.

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, British Bulldog said:

I can't help feel that 'somebody' simply doesn't want the populous to have 'fun' ... its as if they are using Covid19 to ease people back into the old traditional ways of celebrating Song Khran ... however, as many have stated in this post, it won't stop the young and young at heart who traditionally go crazy during the celebrations ! (Myself included and I am 67)

Are you one of the falang yobbos who sit outside their beer bar with a high powered water gun shooting anything which moves, be it pedestrian or motorcyclist, with a bevvy of young maidens to help you.

[Millcx]

7 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Maybe make recommendations to a larger committee?

 

Honestly, the PM makes all the decisions.

 

 

Maybe the 6 Covid Dogs can be used to smell out the throwers of water that might have Covid .. How hard would it be for the 6 dogs to cover the country .. Problem solved

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Out go water fights, use of talcum powder to coat faces and foam parties.

That'soured water on Khao San roads plea for 15,000-20,000 people a day in a water fest.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Same as when they put the signs up saying "No Alcohol" as the mom n pop shops stock up on sangsom ????

Thank god for small mercies.

[spidermike007]

Just another example of how this horrific Thai army regime is literally crushing the life and joy of the nation.. 

 

A second wave could so easily be avoided, if not for a very poor reaction by Anutin and the administration, with regard to the need for a total shutdown of Samut province, which happened far too late, after the latest outbreak. It was total and abysmal failure. Oh, can I go to prison for saying that? Prayuth is largely to blame for this, as he was obsessed with the optics of a lockdown, even if it was only one small part of one province. This has led to thousands of cases, the loss of millions more jobs, and an utter demolition of the domestic tourism industry. 

 

Resign now! 

[paulikens]

all the old miserable gits will be happy then. a lot of em are on here.

[paulikens]

2 hours ago, British Bulldog said:

I can't help feel that 'somebody' simply doesn't want the populous to have 'fun' ... its as if they are using Covid19 to ease people back into the old traditional ways of celebrating Song Khran ... however, as many have stated in this post, it won't stop the young and young at heart who traditionally go crazy during the celebrations ! (Myself included and I am 67)

@British Bulldog dont know about the 'somebody' at least 70% of the posters on here dont want anyone to have fun either.  

[KannikaP]

In the words of Brian Wilson.....And we'll have Fun Fun FUn now that Prayut took the Songkaran away.......

[tandor]

..actually, the throwing of water would cause the virus particles to fall to the ground much faster, and would therefore be less transmissible from an infected person.

As the expert virologists will tell you the more humid the air is the less risk as opposed to drier air, or air with less moisture.

Ref: This Week in Virology, Professor Vincent Racianello of Columbia University, US.