Chiang Mai starts early Songkran festival

BANGKOK, April 8 (TNA) - People in the northern capital of Chiang Mai on Sunday began early celebrations of the traditional Songkran New Year festival. Although water-splashing had not officially started yet, people in Doi Saket district in Chiang Mai on Sunday paraded the streets along with decorative and colourful motorcades, enabling passersby and foreigners to admire the long cherished tradition. Meanwhile, the ABAC Poll had conducted a survey on Gross National Happiness towards the upcoming Songkran festival, which officially starts this Friday. The survey found the overall happiness index among Thais slipped further to 6.18 in March from 6.66 in January. More than 60 per cent of the respondents believed violence could erupt during the Songkran weekend as they had no confidence in government measures, while 38.3 per cent said no violence would take place. National police chief, Police General Priewpan Damapong said police in Bangkok would be on full alert throughout Songkran, although there were still no signs of untoward incidents. He said police in the deep South would also take more precautions due to heavy movements of insurgents in the area during the past 7-8 years.