M'sians Join Songkran Revellers In Hat Yai

By Sakini Mohd Said HAT YAI, April 13 (Bernama) -- The bombing incident here recently, which claimed five lives, including two Malaysians, did not deter Malaysians from visiting the city in conjunction with the Songkran (water) festival. A private sector employee from Johor Baharu, who identified himself as Leo, said he was attracted to the festival as he wanted to experience the excitement during the splashing of the water among revellers. "It is just like a war, but water war. Everybody brandishing water guns and shoot each other. I didn’t expect it to be so interesting and everybody appears to be sporting, no matter who," Leo, who is in his 30s, told Bernama. Songkran is celebrated in Thailand from April 13 to 15 to mark the Thai New Year and is a much awaited event for the Thais and tourists. First celebrated in 1888, the festival usually falls at the end of the dry season. But today, it is also used as the best time to cleanse oneself of sin. Among events arrayed for the occasion, included the Songkran dance sports, a free concert of titanium foam party and Muay Thai (Thai boxing). A businessman from Klang, who identified himself as Lee, 50, said the bombing did not dampen his spirit to usher in the festival as he had been doing so for years. "Besides celebrating Songkran, Hat Yai is a shopper's haven. You can haggle over prices and shop till you drop," he said. For traders, Songkran helped revived their business activities which were badly affected after the bombing. Trader Tift said the festival augured well for the business community as visitors thronged the city again since two days ago. -- BERNAMA