Songkran in Hong Kong: get very wet at Thai community's New Year parade
Encroaching redevelopment and rising rents in Hong Kong's predominantly Thai neighbourhoods haven't dampened enthusiasm for the Songkran festival
When pistols are drawn and battle breaks out in Kowloon City on Sunday, anyone who wants to stay dry should wear a raincoat. Put your phone and wallet in plastic bags, and bring your sense of humour because there'll be an all-out water fight as the local Thai community celebrates Songkran, the Thai New Year.
Residents of "Little Thailand", as the neighbourhood south of the Kowloon Walled City Park is nicknamed, mark Songkran as fervently as they would back home. With dustbins for ammunition dumps, the weapons of choice are hosepipes, buckets and high-powered water pistols.
Although rent increases and redevelopment threats have been felt by the area's many Thai restaurants and shops in recent years, nothing dampens enthusiasm for the water festival - and if anything, it just gets bigger. For the first time this year, two groups will hold separate celebrations and come together for the annual street parade that starts at about 5pm.
"During Songkran, this whole area is buzzing", says Lam Ka-kwan, whose mother owns Little Thai, which sells traditional Thai street food. "Business will be quiet, but when the parade ends we get huge queues. Everyone comes in soaking wet, and the floor and the sofas get drenched. So we now put plastic covers on the seats."
Ethan Wong, from Baan Thai Thai handicraft store, says he's usually busy working. "It's really fun; there are lots of kids running around. This year we're promoting the more traditional side … I'm really looking forward to it and I'm going to be playing [with water] this year."
Support group the Thai Regional Alliance has organised activities for Songkran since 2004, and hopes this year's will be the liveliest yet. The programme kicks off at 1pm with games, performances of traditional dancing and a singing contest. An official opening ceremony begins at 3pm, followed by more dancing, then the ritual of bathing a Buddha image and giving respect to the elderly as a mark good luck, starting at 3.45pm.
