Songkran is a beautiful festival that requires safer and more acceptable forms of celebration, according to Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) chief executive officer Supreda Adulyanon.
Speaking at the opening of "M2F Presents Bangkok Songkran Festival 2017 @ CentralWorld", Mr Supreda said it would be a good start to revert to the traditional ways in which the holiday used to be celebrated.
In times past this included the rod nam dam hua ceremony when youngsters would sprinkle a small amount of water on their elders to bestow blessings on them.
Even in modern times, Songkran could still be a safe time of year if alcohol was excluded and revelry on a large scale confined to so-called safety zones, he said.
"Songkran without alcohol is safe and can still be great fun for all," he said, adding that the M2F Presents Bangkok Songkran Festival @ CentralWorld, organised by Post Publishing Plc, can serve as a role model for water-safety zones in the capital.
ThaiHealth CEO Supreda Adulyanon believes that in former days, this is the only way Thais celebrated Songkran, with scented water poured gently over a Buddha image and the hands of the elderly. (Pawat Laopaisarntaksin)
The M2F event, in one of the so-called safe zones declared by the government for Songkran, lasts until Saturday.
M2F, Post Publishing's free daily newspaper, is managing the event, one of the largest celebrations of this year's holiday in Bangkok.
Mr Supreda said the safety of youngsters taking part in Songkran is emerging as a major concern of the festival.
This year, hundreds of water-safety zones have been set up in major provinces including Chiang Mai, Roi Et, Ubon Ratchathani and Phuket, according to Mr Supreda.
Authorities have ordered that mass water-throwing activities during Songkran be confined to designated zones in major provinces. Alcohol is also banned in these areas.
One positive outcome from the government regulation of introducing safety zones is the number of liquor outlets along the streets in Silom in Bangkok has fallen from 800 to virtually none over the past two years, he said.
The safety zones were aimed at scaling down road fatalities, promoting road safety during Songkran and cutting down on the cases of men groping women in public.
Ek-Rit Boonpiti, director and member of the executive committee at Post Publishing, said the organiser focused on a culturally appropriate way to celebrate Songkran without alcohol.
"This is the sixth straight year of the M2F Presents Bangkok Songkran Festival. We still promote a safe Songkran," said Mr Ek-Rit.
Meanwhile, Nat Kruthasoot, director of the Events Planning Division of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, suggested Songkran is a festival that tourists must celebrate at least once in their lifetime.
After the opening ceremony, Thai and foreign revellers took up water games with gusto, using water guns to shoot at each other and enjoying themselves at the carnival-style Songkran event in front of the CentralWorld shopping centre.
The zone also features amusement park rides, game booths, a cultural show and free mini-concerts by Thai artists. Security checkpoints are also located around the venue.
Below: Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, centre, visits the 'M2F Present Bangkok Songkran Festival 2017 @CentralWorld' event which runs until Saturday. On hand to welcome her is Ek-Rit Boonpiti, left, director of the executive committee at Post Publishing. Phrakrit Juntawong
