S'pore version of Songkran to be dry affair

SINGAPORE - Singapore's first Songkran festival will be a dry one.

The organisers of Celebrate Songkran 2014, the local version of Thailand's water festival, will be removing all water splashing activities from the event in the light of the recent dry spell here.

During the festivities in Thailand, Thais throw water at each other in a traditional new year blessing.

In a press release issued yesterday, the event's organisers said that the decision was made after "extensive discussions".

Instead, the carnival area of the event will be enlarged, and more rides, games and activities will be held.

A water conservation and heritage exhibition will be held jointly with PUB, the national water agency, during the festival.

"We are confident that removing water splashing activities from the event will not remove the true meaning of Songkran," said the organisers.

"We wish to do our part for water, especially having recently gone through the longest dry spell in Singapore."

The event, to be held at the Padang on April 12 and 13, has ruffled some feathers in Thailand.

The Bangkok Post recently reported on a Thai Ministry of Culture official's threat to sue festival organisers for hijacking the festival.

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