Dubai: For three minutes on Saturday, over 6,000 people at Zabeel Park were at war with each other — with water balloons in hand but all in the name of fun at Dubai’s first Water Balloon Bash on the second day of Eid Al Adha.
The predominantly young crowd was divided into two teams — yellow and blue.
Over 1,000 more participants queued outside the park even after the event had begun. Those who did not pass the height limit of 140cm were not allowed entry.
Some 200,000 colourful water balloons rained down on a portion of Zabeel Park, which was not watered for three days for this purpose.
“The park was not watered for three days, so every water balloon that will be thrown here will go to the ground. There will be zero wastage,” Mohammad Itani, one of the organisers from Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment (DEPE), told Gulf News.
DEPE bought 15,000 litres of sweet water for the activity. What took three days to organise and prepare took three minutes to actually finish, organisers said.
The teams pelted each other with water balloons minutes before the official countdown began — too excited to wait.
There was no winning team on the day as organisers told Gulf News the event was just for fun.
But minutes before the event started, many participants pushed and shoved near the entrance causing some to fall on the ground, or lose their slippers.
Once the yellow team was inside the arena, they began throwing water balloons at each other at will.
Some of the crowd got rowdy but organisers and security, including Dubai Police, were present to manage the crowd. Three ambulance units from the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services were also on the scene for any emergencies.
“We had here three ambulance units, including a first responder, with six medics. We were ready for anything, small abrasions, or fainting from the heat. Though we know running is not allowed, we’re still prepared,” Sultan Rahman, also from DEPE, told Gulf News.
Just four minor injuries were reported including a swollen foot and eye irritation.
One of those who got hurt during the water bash was Maha Esmat. “Someone threw a water balloon and it hit me straight in the eye.” said Esmat, who celebrated her 16th birthday at the water bash. Though she got hurt she said that “overall it was fun.”
“There was a lot of pushing and shoving. As soon as I entered someone pulled my shirt and it got ripped. But it was fun but too short. And we had fewer water balloons as well,” Rauna Thakur, a working student from Pakistan, said.
Many came with family and friends, including Ali Nader, 22, from Pakistan. “I came just for fun. All of my friends are here. I spent the first day of Eid with my family, now I’m spending it with my friends,” Nader told Gulf News.
Besides the 6,000 participants, hundreds of families also came to watch the event. Clare Hurford’s son, Archie, had planned on joining the water bash for their first Eid in Dubai but was 15 centimetres short of the minimum required height. They instead sat and watched.
Ahmad Sa’ad told Gulf News that he and his family went to Zabeel Park on Saturday not for the water bash but to enjoy the park itself.
“The park has many facilities for children to have a good time. They love playing in the garden and being with people. Yesterday we were at Dubai Mall, but there were too many people and we couldn’t move so we left right away. We’d like to spend our day outdoors instead,” Sa’ad said.
