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Thailand’s extended Songkran festival sees millions celebrate

Thailand is in the middle of its Songkran celebrations, marking the country’s traditional New Year, which have millions participating in the world’s biggest water fight. Thai officials and business owners have welcomed the festivities that increase the country's soft power and boost its economy. In many areas of Thailand, including the capital, Bangkok, Songkran public water fights usually last for three days starting on April 13. But this year the festival began a day earlier as Thailand enjoys a long public holiday weekend. In some areas, like the northern city of Chiang Mai, the public water fighting rituals tend to last longer. Millions of domestic tourists and foreign visitors celebrate the occasion, boosting business for Thai companies in the tourism industry. Chan Holland, owner of travel agency Canary Travel Thailand in Bangkok, said she believes this Songkran festival has attracted more visitors. “More people come to Songkran this year; it’s busier for both Thai and [international] tourists” she told VOA. “There are concerts and shows, parades at the royal grounds in front of the Grand Palace. The Thai government is trying to promote the festival more internationally.” May Kung, a part-owner of Ruen Thong restaurant in Bangkok, said bookings have increased. “My restaurant [bookings] are better than last year. About 20% [busier],” she told VOA. Thais enjoy the festivities by visiting temples, cleaning Buddha statues, and engaging in public water fights, which are seen as cleansing rituals. In Bangkok, excited revellers from Thailand and abroad began with the water dousing as early as Thursday. People in the capital wore colorful, flowery shirts, armed themselves with toy water guns and buckets of water, and drenched each other from morning until night. Authorities closed major roads for the crowds, but it was still shoulder-to-shoulder in popular areas like the Silom district, Khao San Road and the Sanam Luang field near the Grand Palace. The Siam Songkran Music Festival is another major event taking place over the weekend. The Thai government says the Songkran celebrations, officially the “Maha Songkran World Water Festival,” will be extended this year. This comes after UNESCO designated Songkran as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in December. “To honor its recent UNESCO designation, the 2024 festival will be celebrated [for up] to three weeks, from April 1 to 21, uniting all 77 provinces in a celebration of unmatched scale,” Nithee Seeprae, the deputy governor for marketing communications at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, told VOA. Confusion from some international visitors has put a damper on the celebrations. Some international visitors thought that public water fights would last for the entire three weeks, prompting the Thai government to respond by saying the celebrations would not all take place simultaneously. But the festival does come at a time when Thailand has fewer concerns than recent years. The Southeast Asian country has been marred by political unrest, military coups and the COVID-19 pandemic in the last decade. “It’s the first year under civilian government and without real fears regarding COVID-19,” Pravit Rojanaphruk, a veteran journalist at Khaosod English newspaper, told VOA. Thailand is now led by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin after nine years under military governance. Songkran shows Thailand’s soft power, officials say. “The Srettha government is very keen to promote it as a key festival on the global calendar and in this regard, Thailand is succeeding, despite the fact that Songkran is also celebrated in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and even parts of China,” Pravit added. While the Songkran festival is one of the biggest holidays on the Thai calendar, the nationwide event significantly boosts the economy, which relies heavily on tourism. The industry provides around 20% of jobs in the Southeast Asian country. Thailand saw 28 million tourist arrivals in 2023 with 35 million expected in 2024. “We estimate that there will be over 500,000 international tourists in Bangkok and around for the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 from April 11 to 15, joining locals and domestic travelers at the extravaganza at the heart of this year’s celebration,” Nithee Seeprae said. “For economic benefit, this constitutes 8.76 billion Baht (around $240 million) from international tourism and 15.66 billion Baht (around $428.3 million) from domestic tourism with 510,000 visitor arrivals and 4.29 million domestic trips,” he added. Tourism analyst Gary Bowerman said he believes Thailand’s government will want to maximize Songkran but must be cautious about overdoing the festival in the future. “Essentially, Thailand is seeking to ‘extend the franchise,’ and make Songkran a three-week festival around the country to promote water-themed tourism activities,” he told VOA. “The timing is important, as this is the start of the traditional off-peak season, and the [Tourism Authority of Thailand] doesn’t want the momentum that developed in the first quarter to drop significantly, as it has set itself an ambitious full-year visitor arrivals target. “The risk is that, ultimately, you could dilute the cultural resonance of Songkran, and turn it into a less meaningful event across a longer period. There will be a lot of learnings from this first year of making it an extended festival. Next year will likely see further changes based on the 2024 Songkran experiences for the tourism sector across the country,” he added.

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Vrindavan to soon have a 70-storey skyscraper temple to boost tourism

A towering 70-storey skyscraper temple, known as the Vrindavan Heritage Tower or Vrindavan Chandrodaya Mandir, will soon grace the landscape of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh. If reports are to go by, this temple is being built at an estimated cost of $80 million (₹668.64 crore). Referring to this, a prominent ISKCON leader said that it is poised to become a prominent structure showcasing Indian culture on the global stage, and thereby bolstering tourism in India and the local economy. Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice Chairman and Co-Mentor of the Global Hare Krishna Movement, as well as Senior Vice President of ISKCON Bangalore, stressed the pivotal role of religious infrastructures in boosting India's tourism sector. While talking to the media, he cited what Prime Minister Modi stated earlier to the Indian diaspora to bring foreigners, particularly Americans, to India to experience its spiritual essence. Dasa stressed that alongside modern amenities such as airports, there exists a palpable demand among visitors for spiritual experiences. Thus, the development of spiritual and religious infrastructures of exceptional quality becomes imperative to effectively showcase India's rich heritage to the world. Highlighting the significance of Vrindavan in this endeavour, he added the importance of crafting a world-class infrastructure around the teachings of Krishna. The ISKCON leader expressed optimism regarding India's heritage infrastructure's potential to attract renowned intellectuals and leaders from across the globe, which would lay grounds for profound philosophical discussions and cultural exchanges. Describing the layout of the Vrindavan Heritage Tower, Dasa detailed its octagonal design featuring four main temples along with three additional temples and a memorial dedicated to Srila Prabhupada. Additionally, Dasa disclosed plans for the temple complex to offer comfortable accommodation facilities, catering to the anticipated surge in visitors. Quoting estimates from the Uttar Pradesh government's tourism department, he revealed projections indicating a fivefold increase in visitor numbers to Vrindavan over the next six to ten years, reaching a staggering 100 million. To accommodate this influx, the temple complex is set to feature one of the largest parking facilities, multi-level parking capable of accommodating up to 3,000 cars concurrently. Overall, the Vrindavan Heritage Tower will represent a significant endeavour aimed at not only preserving India's cultural legacy but also providing the required boost to its tourism industry to reach new heights on the global stage.

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Dubai Airports Issues Travel Advisory Amid Heavy Rain

Dubai: Dubai International (DXB) is advising passengers not to come to the airport, unless absolutely necessary due to the unprecedented weather conditions in the country. In a statement, Dubai Airports said that flights continue to be delayed and diverted. Passengers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest information on flight status. Dubai Airports assures passengers that they are working hard to recover operations as quickly as possible in very challenging conditions. On the same note, Emirates Airlines has decided to suspend travel procedures for passengers departing from Dubai starting from 8:00 am on Wednesday, April 17th, until midnight on April 18th, due to operational challenges resulting from adverse weather conditions and road conditions. Emirates Airlines added that procedures for passengers arriving in Dubai and transit passengers will continue.

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Over 10 lakh Indians face years of wait time to acquire a US Green Card!

In a recent visa update, it was found that over 10 lakhs Indians are facing longer waiting time than Chinese nationals to get a US green card! The information was shared by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) data. The long wait is because of a cap on the number of green cards provided to people from a specific nation and a low annual quota. The data also shows that there are several highly skilled professionals from India, including doctors, engineers and scientists, who are facing more-than-expected long wait times, potentially decades! As per reports, nearly 838,784 Indians are in the waitlist. The data shows this backlog has increased significantly in recent years. As per reports shared by Forbes, the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP) performed a study of the USCIS data as of November 2. It was discovered that more than 1.2 million Indians are currently waiting for green cards in the top three employment-based categories. across the top three employment-based categories. This includes individuals awaiting clearance in the EB-1, EB-2, and EB-3 preferences, with wait times particularly extensive for Indian applicants compared to those from other nations. "The USCIS data from 2020 suggest that the Indian backlog in the EB-2 category rose by more than 240,000 or 40% in approximately three years," according to the report. Reasons for the longer wait time for Indian applicants? The surprising thing is that the wait time for Indians is much longer than for applicants from other nations such as China and the Philippines. It is due to a limit on the number of green cards given to people from each country known as the "per-country limit". Extended wait times for Indians often coincide with the likelihood of having spouses and children, resulting in an underrepresentation of dependents. As per NFAP, nearly 148,000 Chinese professionals along with their dependents are waiting in the employment-based green card backlog, with 83,000 in the second preference and 41,000 in the third preference. As of now, Indians are in the second spot, their application must have been filed before May 15, 2012, to be eligible, according to the State Department!

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The world’s first ’Dragon Ball’ theme park will open in Saudi Arabia

A theme park based on Japan’s Dragon Ball manga franchise will be built in Saudi Arabia’s new high-end tourist attraction of Qiddiya City just outside Riyadh, and will be the perfect way for fans to not only experience Goku’s world, but also remember its creator Akira Toriyama, who passed away earlier this year in March. The 500,000-square-metre (125-acre) park will allow fans to “live the adventures at the heart of the action, experiencing the journey from the first Dragon Ball series to the latest Dragon Ball Super”, according to a press release by the Qiddiya Investment Company. Feel free to go Super Saiyan for your love of the manga series here. First serialised in 1984, Dragon Ball is one of the best-selling manga franchises of all time and has spawned countless anime series, films and video games. In a press release on the official Dragon Ball website, authorities in Qiddiya did not give an opening date for the park and also did not say how much construction would cost. The statement said the attraction would be split into seven themed zones based on the magical dragon-containing balls that are central to the series. The park will have at least 30 rides and include a 70-metre (230-foot) dragon at the centre of the site, it said. The Qiddiya “entertainment city” project, featuring high-end theme parks, motorsport facilities and a safari area, is under construction near the Saudi capital Riyadh. Shares of Toei Animation, which produced the Dragon Ball anime series, surged 6.7 percent on March 22.

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Lahaul and Spiti: Travel advisory issued due to avalanche threat

As per the latest news reports, the Lahaul and Spiti police have issued a cautionary advisory, urging people to steer clear of the Chandra River due to recent adverse weather conditions. Additionally, they have released an avalanche advisory advising against traversing steep slopes and urging heightened vigilance in snowy regions. The police stated that the Chandra River's water flow, previously obstructed by an avalanche triggered by recent snowfall and rainfall, has been restored, resulting in elevated water levels. Therefore, it is strongly advised for individuals to refrain from approaching the river. In light of the prevailing weather conditions, commuters are advised to exercise prudence while travelling through snow-covered areas, where the risk of avalanches remains significant. The advisory also stresses the importance of avoiding steep inclines, maintaining awareness of potential hazards, staying informed about weather forecasts, and remaining vigilant in snowy locales. If reports are to go by, the adverse weather situation has prompted closure of 112 roads, including three national highways, across Himachal Pradesh, with the majority of closures concentrated in the Lahaul and Spiti district. While higher elevations and tribal territories have experienced light snowfall, the mid and lower regions have witnessed intermittent rainfall over the past 24 hours. According to the Meteorological Centre in Shimla, Hansa and Koksar in Lahaul and Spiti have recorded 5 cm and 2 cm of snowfall, respectively. Notable rainfall measurements include Kothi with 63 mm, Chamba with 41 mm, Manali with 35 mm, Jot with 31 mm, Dalhousie with 28 mm, Keylong with 22 mm, Kasol with 19 mm, and Kangra with 17 mm. Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted moderate rainfall, snowfall, thunderstorms, and lightning across several northern regions, including Himachal Pradesh, from Tuesday onwards. This outlook is attributed to a fresh western disturbance and a cyclonic circulation over Jammu and Kashmir. Furthermore, an orange alert has been issued for Himachal Pradesh, with thunderstorms, lightning, hail, and gusty winds anticipated in isolated areas from April 18-21. These weather conditions underscore the importance of exercising caution and adhering to safety advisories, particularly in mountainous regions prone to avalanches and adverse weather phenomena.

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