Bangkok celebrates Lunar New Year

The streets of Bangkok are decorated with bright lanterns while people wear red to visit temples to celebrate Lunar New Year.

Millions of ethnic Chinese Thais began celebrating Lunar New Year, gathering for family meals and visiting temples around Chinatown. The old streets in the heart of the Thai capital came alive on the afternoon of February 10, with thousands of tourists gathering on the first day of Lunar New Year.

"This is a very sacred occasion. I have been going to the temple every day since I was young. I want to make merit and wash away bad things. Today the air is fresh because of the rain," said Watcharin Parichatwuttikoon, 70, standing outside Wat Mongkorn.

In contrast to the bustling street scene, many Thai people go to temples to find a moment of silence at Wat Mongkorn, a famous Buddhist temple in Chinatown.

"Today is a good day for Thai-Chinese people. I pray for good luck and hope this year ends smoothly," said Chawanakorn Arunthanachotikul, 31, as he visited the temple with family and friends.

People visit a temple in Chinatown, Bangkok, Thailand, February 10. Photo: AFP

The Lunar New Year is also a busy time for Thailand’s tourism industry. A Thai government spokesman said on February 10 that the country welcomed more than 730,000 Chinese tourists from January 1 to February 8.

The influx of visitors comes after Bangkok and Beijing signed a visa-free agreement last month, a move Thai officials hope will boost the tourism industry, which is struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

In Chinatown, visitors enjoy strolling past stalls selling colorful items, many of whom wear red cheongsams.

"I wanted to go to Chinatown during Lunar New Year because it makes me feel at home. The atmosphere here is very festive and vibrant," said tourist Cassandra Branson, 22, a Chinese-American.

Chinese people have migrated to Thailand for a long time. Thai Chinese people now make up about 10% of the Thai population, including many of the country's most prominent business families.

Ngoc Anh (According to AFP )

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