Pattaya mayor confirms Songkran, including the “big day” on April 19th, will take place-but no water fights, booze, powder, or parties-only religious and traditional activities allowed

[webfact]

 

By Goong Nang(GN)

 

Pattaya-  The Pattaya mayor has allowed this year’s Songkran festival (also known as the water festival and Thai New Year) to go on at Pattaya and Na Kluea, but the focus will be on traditional and religious practices. Water splashing, water fights, alcohol consumption, powder, foam parties, and parties, in general, was still prohibited due to concerns around Covid-19.

 

Mr. Sontaya Khunpluem, the Pattaya mayor, gave the green light for Songkran to continue this year which will take place from April 18th to April 20th in the Pattaya, Naklua, and Bang Saray areas. The national holidays will be from April 13th-April 15th. This will be the first time since 2019 “Wan Lai” on April 19th, or the day of water, will be allowed in Pattaya due to Covid-19 precautions. However, it’s unclear what this will look like as water play and fights will be banned due to the still ongoing spread of the virus.

 

Keep up to date with all things Thailand - Join our daily ASEAN NOW Thailand Newsletter - Click to subscribe

 

April 19th is typically the single biggest party of the year for Pattaya, even more so than Christmas and New Year, but due to the strict rules to “prevent the spread of Covid-19,” it will look significantly different.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/03/22/pattaya-mayor-confirms-songkran-including-the-big-day-on-april-19th-will-take-place-but-no-water-fights-booze-powder-or-parties-only-religious-and-traditional-activities-allowed/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-03-23

 

- Aetna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[SAFETY FIRST]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

no water fights, booze, powder, or parties

 

Water splashing, water fights, alcohol consumption, powder, foam parties, and parties, in general, prohibited

Wow sounds like a lot of fun (if you're a nun) 

 

Anyway, one good to come out is you won't get blasted by those high powered water guns from the F.W foreigners on Soi Buakhao. 

Oh yeah. No more water thrown from water buckets filled with ice blocks.

These 2 stupid water activities really hurt.

 

No wonder so many deaths on the roads, that ice water startles you, just the thing you need when maneuvering through drunking people. 

 

 

Edited March 22, 2022 by SAFETY FIRST

[bristolgeoff]

The bars and ladies who are working there,What fun for them.They will all go home and bars may as well shut as tourist will not be there for the period.One way to kill they fun for songkran

[jacko45k]

I am expecting bars will be open and be serving beer and a free for all, beyond the capability of the police, will occur!

[HappyExpat57]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

alcohol consumption . . . in general, was still prohibited due to concerns around Covid-19.

Normally this would be a silly ass question but TITS - are they planning to shut down bars during the holiday?

[jacko45k]

5 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Normally this would be a silly ass question but TITS - are they planning to shut down bars during the holiday?

Not likely..... might get  bit of police action checking compliance of those who did not pay the piper.

Edited March 22, 2022 by jacko45k

[andyman57]

Oh yes and Xmas and new year are also cancelled. Oh what fun in the sun

[Tarteso]

So Sonkrang just for kinkao and kinkao

[ezzra]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

but the focus will be on traditional and religious practices. Water splashing, water fights, alcohol consumption, powder, foam parties, and parties, in general, was still prohibited due to concerns around Covid-19.

So in other words, it'll be like funeral, sombre colourless and boring...

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Water splashing, water fights, alcohol consumption, powder, foam parties, and parties, in general, was still prohibited due to concerns around Covid-19.

Sounds almost civilised.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, bristolgeoff said:

The bars and ladies who are working there,What fun for them.They will all go home and bars may as well shut as tourist will not be there for the period.One way to kill they fun for songkran

70 million Thais will do what Thais do... get over it.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

I am expecting bars will be open and be serving beer and a free for all, beyond the capability of the police, will occur!

Nature always finds a way... Thais will celebrate in their own way, regardless of the water fights.

[wombat]

While the rest of the world returns to normal the powers that be continue to shoot themselves in the foot.

[Howiehotspur]

No water fights is great news for me , as here in Pattaya I stock up and stay in the whole week 

so not particularly bothered , but does that mean NO bars will be open and or 7-11 selling alcohol? 
for the whole week ?  ‘ no booze ‘ .. 

[Ralf001]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

.

 

No wonder so many deaths on the roads, that ice water startles you, just the thing you need when maneuvering through drunking people. 

 

 

Yeah typically road deaths during Songkran are lower than usual so doubt the ice water is startling anyone to die on the sois.

[Ralf001]

Just now, Howiehotspur said:

No water fights is great news for me , as here in Pattaya I stock up and stay in the whole week 

so not particularly bothered , but does that mean NO bars will be open and or 7-11 selling alcohol? 
for the whole week ?  ‘ no booze ‘ .. 

No, it does not mean bars and 7/11's will close.

 

drink more think less.

 

 

 

 

 

[Jimbo2014]

Public safety or pushing an extremely conservative agenda?  Lets hope Thailand returns to a semblance of normal next year.  Let kids be kids and have fun.

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

I am expecting bars will be open and be serving beer and a free for all, beyond the capability of the police, will occur!

All the new 'restaurants' on soi 6 fully open on Sunday; all the 'waitresses' semi-clothed.  This soi is a no-go area for cops except at month end when new 'health certificates' are issued.

[Bangkok Barry]

Two thoughts:

1 - They are already applying restrictions for something that is a month away, which doesn't bode well for much opening up in the future.

2 - No-one will take any notice of the restrictions anyway, as no-one ever does. And the police will not enforce anything, as they never do either.

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

2 - No-one will take any notice of the restrictions anyway, as no-one ever does. And the police will not enforce anything, as they never do either.

Traffic control, sort of!

[Andycoops]

My visit to Pattaya finishes on the 6th, a Buddhist holiday so no booze which is why I will be driving home on that day, therefore missing any nonsense that may occur.

I shall enjoy the traditional 3 days in my village with the locals as usual.

[Sydebolle]

See you further first. Thailand is, among others, best known for its childish approach. 

Take a toy away from a kiddo and see what happens. As the "kids" here are of legal age, they will just disregard this rule of no water and no booze. Wondering to which heights the death toll will go this Songkran; luckily certainly lower than previous years due to lack of funds to go home but nevertheless a staggering if not mind-boggling figure again - despite the booze ban!

You're welcome! 

[RichardColeman]

Let's face it, not many people want to take 2-3 vaccines, take out mad insurance, take 1-2 pcr tests, have a quarantine , a £500 flight, for a Thai water festival anyway these days. May as well just postpone the whole thing to October and keep fingers crossed the Generals change their minds

[alex8912]

33 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Yeah typically road deaths during Songkran are lower than usual so doubt the ice water is startling anyone to die on the sois.

Exactly. And of course the handful of posters on this forum that post like him every year!  It never ceases to amaze me. They have an entire year to NOT get ice water thrown on them ( which is refreshing when it's 36 outside) and know exactly where to go to have it happen to them!  Like I say every year. Instead of complaining or being a stubborn old man who feels he has the right to go anywhere in Pattaya during peak Songkran party days/areas. You can stay home, go away or this is always my best suggestion but stupid people are just that: RENT A CAR THAT WEEK! Well 2023 Songkran will be EPIC!! I think some of you should prepare an extra long time to be spent under your beds next year. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

42 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Yeah typically road deaths during Songkran are lower than usual

Fake 

Source, reference for your comment 

 

Edited March 23, 2022 by SAFETY FIRST

[Ralf001]

13 minutes ago, Andycoops said:

My visit to Pattaya finishes on the 6th, a Buddhist holiday so no booze which is why I will be driving home on that day, therefore missing any nonsense that may occur.

I shall enjoy the traditional 3 days in my village with the locals as usual.

Chakri day is now a dry day ?

 

When did that happen ?

[Ralf001]

2 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Fake 

Source, reference for your comment 

 

Every year the number are posted daily, if you have not seen the trends that is your issue my friend not mine.

[HappyExpat57]

According to World Health Organization, roughly 23,000 people die in road accidents each year. this comes out to ~442 deaths per week.

 

According to the Road Safety Directing Center (www.roadsafetythailand.com), in 2018 there were 418 deaths during songkran week, so there were slightly fewer road deaths during songkran.

 

Edited March 23, 2022 by HappyExpat57
grammar

[ChrisKC]

An example of returning happiness to the Thai people?

[pagallim]

Why in Pattaya 18-20 April, when the national holiday is 13-15 April?