JINGHONG, Yunnan, March 27 (Xinhua) -- A governmental decision to go ahead with the sprinkling spree to celebrate a traditional festival has sparked controversy as a prolonged severe drought in southwest China has left tens of millions of people thirsty for water and crops withered.

Netizens posted their harsh criticism after Duan Jinhua, head of the information office in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, confirmed in his microblog a week ago that celebrations for the New Year in the ethnic Dai calendar, featuring the sprinkling spree, will not be canceled despite the drought that is ravaging most parts of the province.

A woman touches the base of a dry reservoir in the drought-hit Yi Autonomous County of Shilin, southwest China's Yunnan Province, March 25, 2010

An online survey on the leading Internet portal Sina.com, showed that 52.3 percent of respondents backed the celebrations while 40 percent regarded it a waste of water.

However, the government of the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture has decided to cancel official celebrations for the Water Sprinkling Festival, and leave local people free for their own choices.

The Water Sprinkling Festival, which is also observed by several other ethnic groups in addition to Dai in Yunnan, falls on April 15 this year. The traditional festival was listed a state intangible heritage in 2006 and has become a chance for carnival.

Actually, the official celebration in Xishuangbanna would be cut to two hours, three hours shorter than in previous years, and people are encouraged to splash less water, according to Duan.

But the cut did not satisfy critics as the worst drought in a century has increasingly become a major national concern.
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