BANGKOK, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Following Bangkok, Thailand's second largest city of Chiang Mai has also called off Thailand's largest annual event, the Songkran Water Festival in an attempt to prevent the COVID-19 outbreak.
The municipal office of Thailand's northern province of Chiang Mai on Wednesday officially called off all activities related to the Songkran Water Festival in April to help control the COVID-19.
Chiang Mai Mayor Tassanai Buranupakorn said the annual Songkran New Year festival that normally attracted huge crowds would be completely suspended, leaving only decorations of Lanna culture and exhibitions of Thai traditional lifestyles at the ancient Tha Phae gate and the Three Kings Monument.
"For the safety of people and tourists, we cancel any activities that would attract crowds of people. They include a beauty contest of women cycling while holding paper umbrellas, a procession of Buddha images and a tradition of extending Songkran greetings to the Chiang Mai governor," Tassanai told the press.
"I would like to ask the public to refrain from splashing water," said Tassanai, "Virus could live in water for as long as 4 days."
