What does the Water-splashing Festival mean?

Water-splashing Festival refers to the New Year Festival of the Dai people in China and some ethnic groups in Indochina Peninsula in Asia, which is held in June or July of the Dai calendar (around Tomb-Sweeping Day 10 days). During the festival, people splash water on each other to bless them.

Songkran Festival is a New Year's Festival for Dai, Achang, Bulang, Wa, De 'ang and some ethnic groups in Indochina Peninsula in China. This is the biggest traditional festival of the Dai people in a year. China Dai Festival is held in June and July of the Dai calendar (around 10 days after Tomb-Sweeping Day). Fixed from April 13 to April 15.

During the festival, people throw water on each other to bless them, and hold activities such as worshipping Buddha, dragon boat racing, flying high and lighting lanterns. After the founding of New China, new contents such as parades, cultural performances, film evenings, exhibitions and material exchanges were added. Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and other countries celebrate this festival in mid-April of the Gregorian calendar every year.

Water-splashing Festival is a comprehensive stage to display the traditional culture of Dai people, such as water culture, music and dance culture, food culture, costume culture and folk worship. It is an important window to study the Dai history and has high academic value. The artistic performances such as palm-dancing and white elephant dance displayed in the Water-splashing Festival are helpful to understand the national characteristics of the Dai people, such as understanding nature, respecting Buddha in love the water, and being gentle and calm.

At the same time, the Songkran Festival is also an important link to strengthen the great unity of the people of all ethnic groups in Xishuangbanna, which has played a positive role in the friendly cooperation and exchanges between Xishuangbanna and Southeast Asian countries and promoted the social, economic and cultural development of Xishuangbanna.