Lao New Year

Pi Mai celebration, flour throwing

Water is used for washing homes, Buddha images, monks, and soaking friends and passers-by.[3] Students first respectfully pour water on their elders, then monks for blessings of long life and peace, and last of all they splash water at each other. The water is perfumed with flowers or natural perfumes. Some people prefer flowers in the water to give a pleasing smell, as well as adding other things, like cologne and perfume. Over the years another tradition has developed with Lao New Year: people will smear or throw cream (shaving cream or whipped cream) or white powder on each other during the celebrations.

Sand is brought to the temple grounds and is made into stupas or mounds, then decorated before being given to the monks as a way of making merit. There are two ways to make the sand stupas. One way is to go to the beach, and the other way is to bring sand to the vat, or temple. Sand stupas are decorated with flags, flowers, white lines, and splashed with perfumed water. Sand stupas symbolize the mountain, Phoukhao Kailat, where King Kabinlaphrôm's head was kept by his seven daughters.

Another way to make merit at this time is to set animals free. The Lao believe that animals need to be free.[3] The most commonly freed animals are tortoises, fish, crabs, birds, eels and other small animals.

Flowers are gathered to decorate Buddha images. In the afternoons people collect fresh flowers. Senior monks take the younger monks to a garden filled with flowers, where they pick flowers and bring back to the wat to wash. People who didn't participate in the flower picking bring baskets to wash the flowers so the flowers can shine with the Buddha statues. In the evening lao people usually go to the temple to worship the Buddhas.

There is an annual beauty pageant in Luang Prabang to crown Miss Pi Mai Lao (Miss Lao New Year).[4] There are many beauty pageants in Laos, but the old capital Luang Prabang is known for its Nangsangkhan pageant. There are seven contestants, each one symbolizing one of King Kabinlaphrôm's seven daughters.

During Lao New Year, there are many spectacles including traditional Lao music and social dancing, molam, and lamvông, which translates to 'circle dancing'.[3] During the daytime many people go to the temple to worship, hoping to have a healthier and happier life in the new year. During the evening, people of all ages go to the temple for entertainment.

A greeting ceremony of Lao New Year in Ban Thasala muang Khamkeut, Bolikhamsai Province.