Letter from Dr Goh Lim Thye, senior lecturer, Department of Economics, Faculty of Business and Economics, Universiti Malaya
People participate in the Songkran water festival to celebrate the Thai New Year in Bangkok, Thailand , on Monday, April 13, 2026. -- AP Photo/Arnun Chonmahatrakool BANGKOK : Thailand 's traditional New Year festival Songkran -- the country's most important public holiday of the year -- began on Monday with exuberant public water fights, as temperatures were expected to top 40 degrees Celsius.
People spray each other with brightly coloured water pistols that have been on sale for days. In the capital, famous streets such as Silom Road and the backpacker mecca Khaosan Road turn into boisterous party strips. Many participants were soaked from head to toe after only a few minutes and deafening party music blared from loudspeakers. The weather service forecast even higher temperatures of up to 42 degrees for some parts of the country in the coming days along with very high humidity. Authorities warned of health risks and stressed that it was dangerous to stay in the sun for long periods without protection. The city administration said it would deploy multiple emergency teams as a precaution and provide ample drinking water for participants. Many tourists often travel to join the festivities. However, the travel industry had warned in advance of sharp declines in bookings due to high flight prices driven up by the Iran conflict. For many Thais, Songkran is also more expensive because of higher petrol prices: most citizens have a whole week off because of the celebrations and normally travel from the cities to the countryside to visit their families. -- dpaForeigners running businesses on tourist passes to face action, says Saifuddin 'She will never be forgotten' - Asha Bhosle, one of India’s super legendary singer with a golden voice, will be forever missed
Songkran Higher Temperatures Fetsivity Begins
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