Thailand celebrates New Year amidst tight security

Bangkok, Apr 13: The people of Thailand are celebrating the start of their traditional New Year today with boisterous water splashing on each other.

The celebrations are conducted amidst an unprecedented security cover with authorities apprehensive of terror attacks aimed at political destabilisation.

An additional 40,000 security personnel have been deployed across the country for the Songkran celebrations.

In the capital Bangkok, army troops and sniffer dogs are keeping watch at the main Songkran celebrations in the Western backpacker tourist area. Security check points have been set up across the city.

A low intensity late night bomb blast near a Bangkok shopping mall, two days before the start of the five-day long Songkran holiday seemed to confirm authorities publicly stated fears of terror strikes during the Thai New Year.

A series of bomb blasts had rocked Bangkok on 31 December last year claiming lives and injuring many including several foreign tourists. Then on the start of the Chinese New Year on 18 February, powerful explosions had rocked south Thailand.

The Thai New Year begins on 13 April and is traditionally observed by offering food to Buddhist monks, washing hands of elders as a mark of respect and sprinkling water on one other as a spiritual cleansing gesture.

UNI