The decision to not hold celebration activities on this short street came after the meeting of several relevant government and private agencies, including the Khao San Road Business Association, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Royal Thai Police.
The meeting agreed that as the country is still in a mourning period, all water celebration activities usually held every year from April 13-15 should be called off.
Khaosan Road Business Association president Piyabutr Jiwaramonaikul said no celebration activities will be held this year on Khao San Road as they were held in previous years as all relevant agencies viewed that it would be inconvenient for people who will be coming from across the country to pay homage to their beloved King during the Songkran festival if the Khao San is closed to traffic to allow the Songkran celebration activities to be held.
The closure of Khao San Road will also affect traffic on other roads surrounding the area, he said.
It was then agreed that this year there will be no water celebration activities, he said, but added that next year celebration in this road will be magnificent.
During Songkran, most office buildings, banks as well as family-run shops and restaurants shut down completely, while big shopping malls usually remain open.
For Bangkok, it is expected to see a mass exodus, as at least half of its eight residents are expected to travel back to their home towns for family re-unions, beginning April 10.
Songkran is officially observed between the 13th and 15th of April (three days national holiday), although in reality, celebrations often last the entire week.
It will be interesting to see if celebrations are muted elsewhere.
(Source:ThaiPBS)