Water fights, foam parties and music events have become synonymous with Thailand's Songkran Festival.

Keeping in mind the COVID-19 pandemic, authorities there have given the green light to celebrate it, but it's going to be majorly watered-down.

Health officials announced that the Songkran Festival or Thai New Year can go on but they have prohibited water fights.

Instead, visitors will walk through a tunnel set up at Khaosan Road which will shower holy water blessed by local monks.

Water guns will be seized

Khaosan Road Business Association president Sa-nga Ruangwattanakul also said SOPs would be strictly adhered to, and if any celebrant were to bring a water gun, it would be confiscated.

The usually busy road will be limited to "safe activities" like pouring water over Buddha's images and a flower parade.

According to Coconuts Bangkok, the pandemic has turned the usually lively Khaosan Road into a ghost town now.

Authorities believe that despite being world-renowned, the Songkran Festival is expected to draw lesser visitors, even among the locals.

Notably, the festival has not been fully celebrated in Thailand since 2018 after the king’s coronation ceremony in 2019 and the pandemic in 2020.