New Taipei Water Festival event for Thai workers attracts thousands

New Taipei, April 28 (CNA) More than 5,000 people on Sunday attended a Water Festival event in New Taipei that featured Thai food and singers, among other attractions.

The event, held in the Bitan Scenic Area in Xindian District, was a joint effort by the New Taipei Labor Affairs Department and the Thailand Trade and Economic Office to thank Thai migrant workers for their contributions to Taiwan's economy.

Those contributions include working to build public infrastructure and providing home care for senior citizens, New Taipei Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan (劉和然) said during his remarks at the event.

In a statement, the city's Labor Affairs Department said the Water Festival was aimed at providing a "familiar and warm cultural space" for Thai nationals and giving Taiwanese an opportunity to experience Thai culture.

In addition, the department said, it hopes that Taiwanese will gain greater respect for foreign cultures and will embrace inclusivity.

On Sunday afternoon, Thai singers Kaimook and Bam Phailin took to the stage to perform a series of hit songs, which sent the crowd of over 5,000 into a frenzy and transformed the event into an open-air music festival.

The event also included a Thai bazaar that offered free haircuts, massages, and fortune-telling, as well as free health checks by the Tzu Chi Foundation. It also featured a display of agricultural products by small farmers.