Bangkok-
The Thai Cabinet has approved a total of a four day holiday between July 4-7, adding two additional days onto the Asarnha Bucha Day and Buddhist Lent on the fourth and fifth, even though many calendars show the Buddhist Lent day as being on Monday, the sixth.
The two additional days are standard government holidays added when holidays fall on a weekend.
Although not officially announced or clarified at the announcement today it is expected that the fourth and fifth will be no alcohol sales days as every Buddhist holiday. If the holidays follow measures taken in prior years, the additional government holidays will see closure of government offices but no alcohol sales ban. These measures, of course, are subject to change, especially during the current Covid-19 situation. An announcement by the government is expected closer to the dates, as there is much confusion, even among some officials, on the exact dates of the religious holiday this year and as previously noted even differences on calendars.
Culture Minister Itthipol Khunplume (In photo above) said that the canceled “substitute” holiday days for Songkran, which was postponed in April, are still to come later in the year, possibly August or September. It is likely these would not be wild water fights or a party but rather simply a substitute day off and government holiday for the days that were canceled earlier in the year due to Covid-19.
In response to questions about if temple activities, such as candle lighting ceremonies and temple fairs, would be allowed he said it was very likely, but the Prime Minister was still concerned about schools opening the same time period and the potential of Covid-19 reappearing and spreading. More information on the guidelines around taking part in ceremonies for the religious holidays would come in the very near future, Itthipol added.
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