Phuket gets green light for Songkran water splashing

Phuket has been given the green light for water splashing festivities during the upcoming Thai New Year of Songkran.

The president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation, Rewat Areerob, confirmed the good news after a three-year break of no water splashing.

The official celebrations will be held in Phuket Town on Dibuk Road, in front of the Limelight Avenue shopping mall. But, in exchange for the water fun, alcohol and drugs will be banned.

The mall is holding the event under the banner ‘Songkran No Al’ (meaning no alcohol).

According to Phuket News, Rewat says the PPAO is working with the event organisers to try to cut down on the number of accidents by using prevention methods.

“The Songkran No Al event had previously been held for nine consecutive years. It is the only Songkran festival in Phuket that has both Thai tourists and foreigners as participants, mostly aged 15-35. Not less than 25,000 people are expected to join the event.

“The activities also include and maintain Songkran traditions, such as pouring water on elders’ hands and the bathing of Buddha images. People are also encouraged to dress in traditional costumes for the day.

“The event will also include performances by local bands and famous bands from Bangkok.”

The allowance of water splashing is expected to bring many more events island-wide, which will also seek to allow water splashing. Rewat says the event zone will be open from 5pm to 10pm.

Meanwhile, Pattaya is set to welcome back Songkran after a four-year absence due to pandemic restrictions. The festival, which is known for being the biggest and wettest party in Pattaya, will culminate on April 19 with Wan Lai, or the “Big Day.” However, health officials fear that the unbridled celebration could also bring a new spike in Covid-19 infections, as it has in previous years, even with muted festivities.

Songkran, the Thai New Year water festival, is held in Pattaya later than the actual holiday April 13 to April 15. They do this in order to attract more tourists, rather than compete with celebrations around the nation.