Culture Minister Weera Rojpotchanarat said yesterday that he was satisfied that the Songkran bash hosted by his ministry, Chulalongkorn University and Siam Square in Bangkok had only used a fourth of the amount of water used in previous Songkran fests.

Weera also invited people to submit photographs of themselves dressed in traditional attire at Songkran celebrations for the “Thainess Promotion” contest. Those interested in joining the contest have until Saturday to submit in one of five creative media categories – photography, signboard, poster, infographic and video clip via http://www.facebook.com/Songkran2559, he said.

In Khao San Road, one of the country’s best-known Songkran water-fighting sites, many Thais and foreign tourists were seen having fun spraying water at each other even though the celebration period has been shortened to just two days – Wednesday and yesterday up to 9pm – instead of the usual April 11-16, night-long water wars.

Reveller Wittawat Thongdee said people at Khao San had opted for water guns because there were fewer water-filling points available, but the fun they were having was almost the same. “This year, people are aware of the water shortage, so they just carry guns that need less water, enabling us to still have fun,” he said.

Water-gun vendor Monrudee Iamsuwat said Khao San Road vendors agreed not to use water hoses and heed the time limit. The atmosphere was still fun like before, she said, squeezing a sprayer at passers-by. “The use of ‘foggy’ sprayers is also not bad, it’s fun and saves a lot of water. Several vendors here also set up smaller tanks for tourists to refill their water guns/sprayers,” she said adding that people understood the drought situation.

According to the Royal Irrigation Department, water levels at major dams were low: Bhumibol Dam was at 6 per cent, Sirikit Dam at 16, Kwai Noi Dam at 27 and Pasak Jolasid at 30, or about 2,169 million cubic metres totally. The usual Songkran water wars would have resulted in three times more water being used, a source reported, adding that up to 5 million cubic metres of water can be saved if it is used frugally.

Besides the concept of saving water, this Songkran highlighted Thai traditions, hence provinces hosted celebrations focusing on the cultural charms. Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district joined Myanmar’s Tha Chilek City authorities to host the “two great lands’ Songkran celebrations” on Wednesday and yesterday, featuring a beautiful procession of both countries’ traditional dances on the Thai-Myanamar Friendship Bridge, before the water valves were turned on by senior officials to create a water tunnel on the bridge for people to enjoy.