Authorities increase alert level for five-day Songkran festivities that begin today. People throw water at each other and everything must be washed as a symbol of purification. A joyful atmosphere invades the streets but the memory of past terrorist attacks imposes a note of caution.

Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Thousands of Thais are on the road, visiting their families for Songkran, the Buddhist New Year. Despite tight security against possible terrorist attacks, the mood is one of celebration and fun as people take part in water-throwing games. Caution remains however de rigueur after a bomb blast shook a shopping centre in Bangkok last Monday.

For five days from April 13 to 17, everything will be cleaned with water since water symbolically washes away last year’s bad deeds. This includes traditional free-for-all water fights which will however be monitored by more than 40,000 police, especially in the most crowded areas of the capital and in tourist resorts.

The interior ministry announced that plainclothes police will be deployed to prevent any terrorist attack because over the years holidays have become a time for concern as terrorism reared its head. For example, on December 31, 2006, nine coordinated attacks killed three people and injured scores more in Bangkok. And no one has yet to be arrested for those crimes even though the authorities suspect Islamic terrorists from the southern part of the country.

In February during celebrations for the Lunar New Year another series of attacks occurred in the predominantly Muslim south. Blamed on Islamic groups, those incidents killed nine people and injured another 44.

In addition to Thailand the Buddhist New Year is celebrated in Myanmar, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

According to tradition, people visit relatives and temples as well as make offerings of food to the monks. Children instead pay tribute to their parents by giving them gifts.

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