PM Opens Phra Prathom Songkran Festival, Quips Back at Teenager's Taunt About Running Out of Money

At 3:30 PM on April 26, 2025, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, alongside his wife Thannont Charnvirakul, presided over the opening of the 2025 Phra Prathom Songkran Festival at Pom Plang Fai Municipality School in Samut Prakan Province. The Prime Minister wore traditional male dress while his wife wore traditional Mon-Thai clothing. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Songsakdi Thongsri, Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaisarttasat, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phan-Charoenworrakul, and other senior government officials.

The annual Phra Prathom Songkran Festival celebrates Thai-Mon heritage and promotes local tourism. This year's celebration also marks the 211th anniversary of Nakhon Khae Khuen Khanthai. The Prime Minister expressed delight at attending and witnessing the public's joy during the festivities. He emphasized the government's commitment to supporting local cultural traditions and noted that UNESCO had recognized Thai Songkran as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The PM highlighted that Phra Prathom's Songkran celebration is one of five representative ceremonies that earned UNESCO's intangible cultural heritage designation. He commended both the Tourism and Culture Ministers for their roles in the recognition. Phra Prathom Songkran is one of four major regional festivals that the government promotes as part of its nationwide tourism initiative.

At one point, the PM remarked off-script about reading from a prepared speech, saying he preferred to speak from the heart to the people he met. A reporter noted that when teenagers in the audience shouted a taunt about him running out of money, he responded good-naturedly rather than dismissing the criticism.