One of the most picturesque and much-anticipated festivals in Bangkok is Loy Krathong which falls this Thursday.
It will be a time when people gather around lakes, rivers and canals to pay respects to the goddess of water by releasing beautiful lotus-shaped rafts, decorated with candles, and flowers on the water.
The event is so famous that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has developed waterways in the city to accommodate the burgeoning number of revellers and expanding scale of events.
One of the canals that have begun to receive a facelift is Klong Ong Ang.
From Monday until Thursday, events will be held along a redeveloped 250-metre stretch from Saphan Damrong Sathit Bridge near Charoenkrung Road to Saphan Phanuphan Bridge, near Yaowarat Road.
ROYAL ORIGINS
Royal heritage: Developed under an initiative of King Rama I over two centuries ago, Klong Ong Ang was once a major market for boats to sell goods near Chinatown.
Klong Ong Ang is more than just a canal, it has a history dating back to the origin of the capital city over two centuries ago. The canal is a secondary moat around the palace area, which was developed in 1783 on the order of King Rama the First.
Originally known as "Klong Rob Muang" (Canal Around The Town), its total length is 7.09km.
Existing for over 200 years, the canal has had both glory days and downtime.
In old days, the canal served as a floating market for traders of pottery and other goods. Subsequently, the canal became less used and over the past four decades has been encroached on by vendors who set up shops along its banks or on its bridges.
The Fine Arts Department (FAD) registered the canal as an archaeological site on April 29, 1976, while the cabinet approved it as a conservation area on May 21, 1997.
Problems arose over a decade ago, with the market on its steel bridge quickly becoming notorious for selling pirated video games and CDs.
However, the BMA removed all such encroachments in 2015.
INSPIRATION FROM SOUTH KOREA
People float their krathong at the official opening of Loy Krathong festivities at Klong Ong Ang Canal last year. The BMA promises to make the event more grand and more fun.
In June 2016, city councillors and BMA executives travelled to Seoul, capital of South Korea, to visit the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project, a renowned urban renewal project involving a canal.
That project took place in July 2003 when the then-Seoul mayor, Lee Myung-bak, initiated a plan to remove the elevated highway and redevelop the landscape and ecology, turning a once-neglected canal into a famous riverside landmark.
Inspired by this, the BMA decided to start canal renewal projects on Klong Ong Ang and Klong Lat Phrao.
For Klong Ong Ang, the BMA spent 275 million baht to redevelop a 750-metre stretch of the waterway and commissioned PYS Construction Co, Ltd for the task.
The work started on June 9 this year and will take a year to complete.
As for the next phase, development will start from Saphan Damrong Sathit Bridge to Saphan Phanfan Leelart Bridge, leading toward Phra Sumen Fort near Phra Arthit Road, over a total length of 2.6km.
This phase is tentatively expected to be finished sometime in 2020, although a budget has yet to be finalised.
RESTORATION WORK
Under repair: Built over 55 years ago, Saphan Han Bridge is one of five bridges crossing the canal to be given a facelift.
The work also includes improvement of the canal landscape and renovation of the four waterfronts.
Five bridges will also receive a makeover -- Saphan Damrong Sathit Bridge, Saphan Panuphan Bridge, Saphan Han Bridge, Saphan Bophitphimuk Bridge and Saphan Ostanond Bridge.
In addition, 46 CCTV cameras have been installed to ensure public safety.
The renovations include dredging the canal to make it deeper, although the FAD has prevented the BMA from paving canal beds and banks with concrete.
So far, the contractor has laid the canal walkway, installed rails and planted trees.
Deputy Governor of Bangkok, Chakkaphan Phewngam, told media during their visit to the site last week that work is now about 48% complete.
LOY KRATHONG EVENTS
More than a canal: The restoration project also aims to create a walking street in the area.
This year's Loy Krathong festival will take place on a big stage on Saphan Damrong Sathit Bridge, near Charoen Krung Road.
There will be numerous activities in the area such as an outdoor cinema and shops selling quality products from over 50 districts in Bangkok. As for the main event on Thursday, extra activities will include a competition for best Krathong float.
A 73-year-old Klong Ong Ang resident, Kriangkrai Thaitrong, said Bangkok has emerged as a popular venue for the festival, which is a significant tradition for all Thais.
"I will visit the event. I just hope the BMA can make it as grand and famous as it claIms," said Mr Kriangkrai who added he wished to see BMA develop the canal into a year-round floating market and walking street to bring more trade to the area.
But not all communities welcome the Loy Krathong Festival.
Among them is Meeboon Thanachotkasemsuk, who told the Bangkok Post that expenditure on events at Klong Ong Ang is a waste of taxpayers' money and should be stopped. "The majority of festival-goers in the area would be happy to go to the Ratchawong waterfront or the Chao Phraya River. A big event here will only cause disturbance to residents," said Mr Meeboon, a community resident.
There have also been rumours spread among community concerning free house paints being handed out to residents to decorate their houses in a creamy colour.
Some say authorities have forced residents to pay a contractor 30,000 baht per building to carry out the painting itself, although the BMA has denied this.
According to the Bangkok governor, Asawin Kwanmuang, the BMA will run two main Loy Krathong festival venues at Klong Ong Ang and on the Chao Phraya River near King Rama 8 Bridge. For revellers seeking a quiet setting, it will also open 28 public parks across the city for people to visit that evening.
The BMA also lays sewage pipe to collect wastewater to treat at wastewater treatment plant before discharging it into the Chao Phraya River.
Under repair: Built over 55 years ago, Saphan Han Bridge is one of five bridges crossing the canal to be given a facelift.
The Klong Ong Ang Canal Restoration has been inspired by the Cheonggyecheon Restoration Project, a renown urban renewable project in Seoul, South Korea.
To redecorate, BMA also plans to remove graffiti from the wall along the canal.