Bars urged to close over Buddhist holiday

PHUKET: The Makha Bucha holiday will again be marked by closed bars this year as police request all establishments that serve alcohol to shut down for the Buddhist celebration tomorrow.

Makha Bucha commemorates the day when 1,250 of Buddha’s disciples convened to hear the Buddha’s preachings. It also marks the day when Buddha announced that he would enter nirvana in three months.

Following an order from Bangkok for all tourism provinces to boost security during the holiday, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch said that police will co-ordinate with government agencies to step up security over the long weekend and the Johnnie Walker Classic golf tournament.