LIVELY SONGKRAN FESTIVAL AT WAT PIKULTHONG REFLECTS CULTURAL HARMONY IN TUMPAT

TUMPAT, April 14 (Bernama) -- The Siamese community in Kampung Terbok, here, did not miss the chance to celebrate the Songkran Festival, more popularly known as the ‘Water Festival’ at Wat Pikulthong.

A Bernama check found that over 500 residents of Siamese descent, along with their family members, attending  the three-day annual festival that began yesterday in conjunction with the Siamese New Year celebration.

Rajoo Natrapong, 40, from Jubakar Darat, said he brought along his three children to enjoy the festive event, which the community eagerly looks forward to every year.

“This festival is highly anticipated by the Siamese community here. Children and teens are the most excited as they get to freely splash water on each other without being scolded.

“Nowadays, many use water guns because they’re more user-friendly, and the water is often mixed with powder to give it a fragrant scent,” he told Bernama.

Meanwhile, Mei Ling, 50, who works as a teacher, said this year’s Songkran celebration came at the right time, given the hot weather.

“I noticed many visitors from outside Kelantan attended the festival and they were pleasantly surprised to see how peacefully the Siamese community here lives alongside other races.

“Some prefer celebrating Songkran in Thailand, but for me, it’s better to celebrate it in our own country,” she said.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim called on the Siamese community to continue to mobilise efforts to strengthen unity and love among people of various races and religions.

Anwar, in a Facebook post, stressed the need for the people to reject slander, prejudice, and divisive sentiments that would only harm all parties.

-- BERNAMA