700 officers to patrol beach during Songkran finale

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Elephants join the fun as Songkran gets underway at Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens. Closer to home, nearly 700 police, city officials, military, and volunteers will patrol Beach Road as Pattaya’s Songkran celebration makes its splashy finale Sunday.

Nearly 700 police, city officials, military and volunteers will patrol Beach Road as Pattaya’s Songkran celebration makes its splashy, but more-heavily restricted, finale Sunday.

Deputy Mayor Wattana Chantanawaranon and representatives from the Provincial Waterworks Authority and Pattaya Cultural Council announced details of the city’s “wan lai” festival and laid out guidelines and restrictions for the April 19 water fight.

Elephants join the fun as Songkran gets underway at Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens. Closer to home, nearly 700 police, city officials, military, and volunteers will patrol Beach Road as Pattaya’s Songkran celebration makes its splashy finale Sunday. Elephants join the fun as Songkran gets underway at Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens. Closer to home, nearly 700 police, city officials, military, and volunteers will patrol Beach Road as Pattaya’s Songkran celebration makes its splashy finale Sunday.

Echoing the mandate of the National Council for Peace and Order, city officials told revelers to dress appropriately and not provocatively. The military is also frowning on “indecent gestures” including “dancing that considered inappropriate to Thai culture.”

Alcoholic beverages cannot be sold or consumed along Beach Road, use or sale of high-pressure water guns is outlawed as are pickup trucks will water tanks in the bed.

In general, officials said they want Songkran to adhere to Thai tradition.

Local dancers perform a demonstration of Thai dance that is a good example of traditional Songkran culture.Local dancers perform a demonstration of Thai dance that is a good example of traditional Songkran culture.

Beach Road will be closed from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. for the annual anarchy, and water curtains will be placed on Beach Road at the Dusit curve for a distance of 200-300 meters and in front of Soi 7 all the way to Central Festival Pattaya Beach a distance of 30 meters.

The PWA will offer water at 10 locations along the beach, from the Dusit Curve to Chaimongkol Temple.