The highlight activities will include the April 12 procession of the sacred Phra Buddha Sihing image from the National Museum through the streets of old Bangkok to the plaza’s temporary shrine.

People will have a chance to pay their respects to the image, before it is brought back to the museum on April 15.

The city will also arrange a morning alms-giving ceremony involving 191 Buddhist monks on April 13 at Khon Muang Plaza as well as a traditional ritual for young people to apologise to the elderly and ask for their blessing.

Various agencies will host Songkran celebrations across Bangkok, including at Siam Square and Santi Chaiprakan Park.

The Cabinet invited representatives of the agencies to a meeting on April 4 to provide Songkran-hosting guidelines in a bid to ensure peace and order, Amnuay said.

The BMA wants Songkran revellers to refrain from smearing powder on people and using high-pressure water guns.