Songkran revellers return to capital

BANGKOK, April 16 (TNA) - Officially Songkran, Thailand's traditional new year, ended Sunday and streams of traffic began pouring back to the capital, while passengers crowded into bus and railway stations around the kingdom.

After Sunday's conclusion of Songkran, large numbers of people began returning to Bangkok early Monday morning although employees of many government agencies and companies had two more days of holiday.

Traffic around many bus terminals and the capital's main railway station at times came to a standstill. Traffic at Morchit's Northern and Northeastern bus terminals moved very slowly, sometimes stopped bumper to bumper in almost one-kilometre-long lines.

Many travellers said that they came back to the city early to avoid the even worse traffic expected on Tuesday.

Likewise, at Bangkok's Hualampong Railway Station, large groups of passengers arrived from different provinces after their trips home.

Meanwhile, a large number of soldiers, police and security guards were assigned to patrol the railway station and check passengers' luggage to boost commuter confidence.

After announcing the formal conclusion of Songkran at 7 pm, officials still needed several hours to force tourists out of crowded Khao San Road in Bangkok's Banglumphu district, the capital's most popular venue for celebrating Songkran.

Afterwards, some 100 street sweepers were assigned to clean the street and collect trash -- including plastic bottles, styrofoam boxes and empty whisky or beer bottles. Some said this year was easier than last year because there was less talcum powder stains due to a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) prohibition against bringing talcum powder into the Khao San area during the celebration.

Moreover during the three-day (April 13-15) Songkran festival, there was only some 40 tonnes of garbage per day, considerably less than last year.

The apparent cause was the BMA's ban against pick-up trucks loaded with Songkran celebrants entering the Khao San area. Only pedestrians were allowed to join the celebration in the area.

Tuesday, the government begins national merit-making ceremony through Sunday (April 22) to mark the 80th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Participating in the ceremony will be Thai people from all communities, religions and walks of life, including Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism and Hinduism.

His Majesty's birthday is on December 5.

TNA