Thai PM opens Songkran festival in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI, April 13 (TNA) - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday presided over the opening of Songkran festival, Thailand’s traditional New Year, in her native northern capital of Chiang Mai. Speaking in northern dialect to people living in the province as well as to foreign tourists, Yingluck said she is happy to return home and is proud that people in the province have helped in preserving Thai culture. She said Songkran festival is considered as significant fortunate day and people should splash water at each other in a polite manner by taking safety into consideration while driving as they should refrain from consuming alcohol beverages in a bid to reduce road accidents and to also enable them to celebrate the event happily. After opening the festival in which people offered alms to 99 monks, held at the province’s renowned Tha Pae Gate, Yingluck and accompanying ministers then paid respects to the revered Phra Phuttha Sihing at Wat Sing before the respected Buddha image was taken out of the chapel and placed on a moving vehicle. The procession then moved on streets to allow revellers paying their worships. Yingluck later proceeded to pay her respect to the Three Kings Monument. (TNA)