BANGKOK: Thailand kicked off the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 with a spectacular parade in Bangkok on Saturday, marking the start of the traditional Thai New Year celebrations.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, along with cabinet ministers, attended the opening ceremony of this year's Songkran, which had been officially inscribed on Unesco's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023.

"The Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2025 aims to boost tourism, stimulate the economy, and highlight Thailand's capability to host world-class events," she said in a statement.

​Meanwhile, commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, Pol Lt Gen Panumas Boonyalak, said immigration officers and airport authorities have been mobilised nationwide to ensure safety and provide convenience for foreign tourists and the public during the festivities.