Songkran makes a splash with locals in Kowloon City

Hundreds of people headed to Kowloon City, also known as Little Thailand, to celebrate the Songkran Festival on Saturday. The two-day event at Carpenter Road Park features water splashing and a Thai bazaar that sees more than 50 stalls offering food and beverages and products such as traditional Thai clothes. Stall operator Jalinya said it was her second time joining the event to celebrate the Thai New Year. “I hope business will be better than last year because there was heavy rain and a typhoon then,” the Thai-Chinese said. “The weather should be good today, I hope it is.” Jalinya said all she could reasonably hope for was that earnings could cover the expenses. A number of parents brought children to enjoy the water splashing, which was seen as the highlight of the festival. A father, Wong, told RTHK that he wanted his son to savour the atmosphere. "I felt completely relaxed and am not thinking about work," he said. A girl, So, who was there with her father said “it was a lot of fun”, as she got to splash water on other children. The festival, held between 12 and 9.30pm, concludes on Sunday. Edited by Thomas McAlinden