A zoo has stopped watering its trees to ensure its animals don't go thirsty. Villagers queue for hours to scoop a few buckets from a well. The government has ordered the air force to seed clouds to make rain desperately needed for rice planting.
But as Thailand endures its worst drought in 25 years, most of its citizens will waste millions of liters of water in the coming week squirting, sloshing and soaking each other during revelry to mark the Thai New Year.
Known as Songkran, the April 13-15 festival is a soggy Mardi Gras that shuts down much of the country.
While it is rooted in mythology, belief and family values, increasingly it's become an excuse to have fun as people roam the streets pouring water on each other during Thailand's hottest time of year.
"I love it. Drenching yourself in water all day kills the heat. I run around with my water pistol the whole day. I stop only to eat. I can't wait for Songkran," said Issara Paoluengtong, 10.
Armed with buckets, water guns and hoses, gangs of young and old set up street corner ambushes, targeting pedestrians, motorists and bus passengers.
Pickup trucks are loaded with huge water tanks, making it easy for dripping-wet warriors to reload. It is not uncommon to see two such water battle tanks showering each other with fusillades of wet ammo.
The water-throwing has its origin in the Hindu mythical belief that sea serpents, or `naga,' bring on the rains by spouting water from the sea. The original ceremony may have been meant to guarantee ample water for the next season's crops.
In the past, the custom was for young people to pour scented water over the hands of their parents and elders as a mark of respect and to receive their blessing.
That still takes place, but over the years, the festival has become more rambunctious. Not many people mind because the benefits are obvious: It helps you cool down during a season when temperatures climb above 38?C.
This year's drought in northern Thailand has reduced most reservoirs to about 38 percent of their capacity.
At the Chiang Mai Zoo, in Thailand's second city, four ponds have dried up.
"We have cut out much unnecessary water usage, such as watering trees to preserve water for the animals," director Thanapat Pongamorn said.
In the village of Nahuabor in northeastern Nakhon Phanom province, Dondaeng Lapra, 50, wakes at midnight and rushes to the public artesian well to be the first in a line of villagers waiting to fill water.
Some nights, the dry well fills with underground water so slowly that they have to wait for two hours or more.
In Nahuabor, the young people may be "starved of Songkran fun," she said.
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