Chiang Mai celebrates Songkran and 720th anniversary

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Chiang Mai celebrates Songkran and 720th anniversary



CHIANG MAI: -- Chiang Mai yesterday celebrated the Songkran festival and its 720th anniversary with colourful parades of Buddha images from several ancient temples for people to respect, and with traditional Lanna dances and shows.

Besides, shrines of idols and statues representing the protectors of Chiang Mai have been set up along for the faithful to pay homage to local spirits that have helped to keep Chiang Mai safe and prosperous.

These idols and statues have been brought from ancient temples all over Chiang Mai.

The ceremony involved bathing of the idols with perfumed water and is a tradition that has been passed down through the centuries in accordance with Lana tradition.

Every April 13 Lana faithful mix turmeric paste in water and pray for good fortune and health and bathe the idols with the mixture.

Meanwhile the atmosphere all along the ‘Ku Mueng’ or city moat in Chiang Mai has remained festive despite of less water this year in the moat or canal.

But tourists and local youths still joined to enthusiastically splash water among each other at popular locations such as at the Pratu Ta Phae gate.

This year Chiang Mai has asked all local residents as well as tourists to exercise greater care and celebrate Songkran politely.

Exuberant splashing of water is not desired this year as water conservation remains the priority.

As a result the main tool of choice for revelers this year are water pistols differing significantly from larger ones seen in the past.

Festive locations all along the city canal have been deemed alcohol free areas by the local authority.

No consumption or distribution of alcohol is permitted whatsoever and officials have carried out regular checks on shops and stalls since noon to ensure the order has been kept.

So far only 10 miscreants have been found and have been reprimanded, authorities said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/159542


-- Thai PBS 2016-04-14

[hlj]

Bullshit i was there and most everyone was drinking and buying at whisky and beer at local shops where I was, did not see a single police while there left about 7PM.