In Thailand the Songkran festival was cancelled nationwide to combat the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The water festival is normally held every year to celebrate the traditional Thai New Year on 13 April, when people splash water on each other and sprinkle powder on their faces as a symbolic sign of cleansing and washing away the sins of the past year.

The Central World shopping mall. Photograph: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

The popular tourist strip of Khao San Road. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA

Silom Road. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Silom Road. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Khao San Road. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA

New Year in Bangkok. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

Lumphini Park. Photograph: Soe Zeya Tun/Reuters

The Central World shopping mall. Photograph: Jorge Silva/Reuters

Khao San Road. Photograph: Narong Sangnak/EPA

New Year in Bangkok. Photographs: Jewel Samad and Mladen Antonov/AFP